A father-of-three from Preston has described himself as 'lucky to be alive' after a chainsaw accident caused him to lose 60% of his blood. Robert Gardner, 39, was cutting logs in his garden in Farington Moss when the power tool bounced back and struck him in the chest.
Mr Gardner lost approximately three litres (five pints) of blood before an air ambulance crew arrived and administered a blood transfusion at the scene. The plumber had been clearing logs ahead of a family party when the accident occurred. He called for his wife Karen, who applied pressure to the wound with a dustsheet and dialled 999.
'There was just blood, flowing out everywhere,' Mr Gardner said. 'I was quite conscious and calm, the adrenaline was kicking-in, but at the same time, we both knew it was serious.' Dr Eimhear Quinn, who treated him at the scene, stated that without the pre-hospital blood transfusion, Mr Gardner would likely have died on the way to hospital.
After arriving at the emergency department, he received a further three units of blood, bringing the total to eleven units during the early stages of treatment. Mr Gardner and his family have since praised the North West Air Ambulance Charity for their life-saving care. 'The intervention and treatment from the North West Air Ambulance Charity was the pinnacle point for me,' he said. 'I've been very lucky - I feel like a very lucky man.'
