Tree Trimmer Goes to Hospital With Chain Saw in Neck

A tree trimmer is recovering after he was rushed to a Pittsburgh hospital with a chain saw blade embedded in his neck.

James Valentine was in a tree in Ross Township on Monday afternoon when he was struck in the neck by the saw.

“I saw blood and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, what in the world?’

“I felt it, I shut the saw off because it was in me, it was still running,” said Valentine from his hospital bed.

Another worker helped him down, and his co-workers left the saw in place to try to limit the bleeding.

Valentine had emergency surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. Doctors say the saw missed major arteries and instead cut into muscle. The hospital Tuesday released an X-ray showing the saw still in the 21-year-old's neck.

“In his case, blessedly he’d missed every important structure,” said Allegheny General Hospital Dr. Christine Toevs.

Valentine works for Adler Tree Service in Gibsonia. Owner Dominic Migliozzi calls the rescue “amazing.” 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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