Maryport: Man almost bled to death after accident with saw

Phil Duggan is reunited with paramedic Andy Dalton from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, who attended the scene

A man who almost bled to death after his arm became trapped in a power saw has thanked those who saved his life.

Phil Duggan, from Dearham, Cumbria, was chopping wood in his storage container when his left arm got caught.

A paramedic from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) accessed his phone's camera to assess the wound.

"I was literally bleeding to death - it was due to the speed of the aircrew being dispatched and getting me to hospital that saved my life," he said.

Warning: This report contains distressing images

Mr Duggan, 53, was airlifted to Preston Royal Hospital where he under went emergency surgery.

"I have been told by the surgeons, by my GP and by quite a few medics, including all the physios, I had 30 minutes to live," he said.

"I was 30 minutes from losing my life and I was 10 millimetres off losing my arm."

Mr Duggan, who lost a litre of blood in five minutes, was able to raise the alarm himself when the accident happened in March.

A crew from the North West Ambulance Service was sent to the scene, followed by a critical care team from GNAAS and members of Maryport Rescue.

He was given strong pain relief, including ketamine, before being airlifted to hospital.

Mr Duggan spent three days in hospital and is undergoing physiotherapy to help rehabilitate his arm.

Mr Duggan says his scar is a "visual reminder" of how lucky he was

"It's just going to take time and a lot of pain and discomfort, but I understand that because the damage has been horrific," he added.

"It's torn the arm muscle, but it's also torn the shoulder right down to my fingers, so I'm literally rebuilding my entire left arm.

"I've got the scars there forever, but that's a visual reminder of how lucky I was."

Mr Duggan and his colleagues have been raising money for the charity

He recently visited GNAAS' base in Langwathby, Penrith, to thank the charity's paramedic Andy Dalton, who was part of the team that assessed and treated his arm before airlifting him to hospital.

"To personally say thank you to somebody and shake that man's hand means so much to me and it makes me glad to be alive," he added.

"Without each member of the team the air ambulance service wouldn't exist, so personally I can't thank them enough and I will do whatever I can to support them."