Durban – Despite efforts to free a man whose arm was stuck in a printing machine, paramedics had no choice but to amputate the man’s arm on site.
According to Sheldon Lombard, an advanced life support paramedic, Rescue Care Paramedics were called out to the scene of an industrial accident in Chatsworth area on Monday evening.
“Upon arrival, a male patient, believed to be in his forties, was found with his arm stuck in an industrial printing machine.
“The patient was stabilised by advanced life support paramedics from Rescue Care while the eThekwini Fire Department and an engineer familiar with the machine made their way to the scene.
“Despite the efforts of the eThekwini Fire Department and the engineer it was deemed to be impossible to free the man’s arm in a timely and safe fashion.
“A decision was made by advanced life support paramedics to consult a surgeon from a specialist hospital in the eThekwini area.”
Lombard said the specialist arrived soon afterwards.
“The surgeon, with the assistance of advanced life support paramedics, performed a field amputation of the patient’s arm to allow for the patient to be freed.”
Lombard said after the patient was freed he was taken to hospital.
“The arm was unfortunately too severely damaged for re-attachment.”
IOL