Doctors save arm of injured farm worker

Feb 20 2008 by Michael Wood, The Journal

DOCTORS have saved the arm of a Northumberland man after he became trapped in farm machinery.

Keith Jones, 49, of Wesley Street in Prudhoe, had his arm pulled into a lime-spreading machine in a field near Brampton, Cumbria, after his jacket sleeve was caught in the machinery on Monday.

He was trapped for nearly an hour before being freed and taken by air ambulance to hospital in Newcastle.

Co-worker David Yule said: “His arm was trapped in the machine to just below the elbow.

“He was screaming and he just wanted me to get him out – then he went into shock. I wanted to start the machine to free him but the emergency services said not to.

“They said that keeping the pressure on would hold everything together.

“He had just come over to give me a hand with the wagon. He didn’t even really need to be there.”

Mr Yule added: “I have worked with Keith for more than 20 years and he is a lovely bloke.

“I just hope that they save his arm and that he will be OK.

“After seeing that, I don’t know whether or not I can carry on with the work.”

One local said: “I drove up the hill to get to my house but I couldn’t get through because of all the emergency vehicles.

“There were police, ambulance and fire crews everywhere. Then the helicopter arrived and we knew that something really serious had happened.”

Mr Jones, of Prudhoe, was cut free by fire crews using small tools, hydraulic separators and high-pressure air bags.

He was then airlifted by the Guardian aircraft of the Great North Air Ambulance to Newcastle General Hospital where surgeons began the battle to save his arm.

His condition was last night described as comfortable.