Spring Pole: Kind of says it all. I did not see a spring pole when I was logging back on March 27th and after I cut through it, it swung up, knocked my hardhat off, launched my chainsaw into my forehead at full throttle, then was ripped right out of my hands. The impact knocked me out, and when I came too I was bleeding. Well you guys know me; I hate cell phones and I cut wood alone so I was limited on my options! The snow on the ground did not help either, making it look like I had been raked over the coals by a running chainsaw, because...well I was. I took a look at my skidder and it had 7 trees hooked to it, so I knew it was not coming out quickly, so I just started running for my truck. It was a half mile run across previously cut logging-country, which was pretty rough. After crossing a stream I was so exhausted I passed out again, came too with more blood all over the snow, running down the back of my throat, and snorting out my nose. Exhausted, but figuring I was going to die if I stayed any longer, I started running again. I got to my truck (I remember little about the run to get there) and saw my face in the side mirror covered with blood, so jumped in and drove home and freaked Katie out (and my 3 year old who thought I was a "yelling, bloody monster"). She called 911 and got the ambulance on the way, but while we were waiting I hung up on them and called my truck driver to see if he could get someone to run up in the woods and shut my skiddder off (diesel is $1.99 a gallon after all). Yep you guys know me...right to the ambulance gourney I am frugal. His boy came up when I was loaded in the ambulance, and later said the saw was still running where it had been tossed in the brush, blood everywhere, but the chain brake was not on. He knew because it snapped on when he threw it on the floor of the skidder and drove the skidder out of the woods. In the end I spent 4 days in the hospital, but even now am I not fully recovered. My brain is kind of fuzzy and a "tick off" so to speak. Still seeing a lot of specialists right now to get it all straightened out. But I will admit that in the hospital I thought I would go right back out and cut the biggest tree I had just to prove I would get right back on the bucking horse and ride. That did not exactly happen; I have cut wood, and with the skidder too, so it was more then just a few trees here and there, so it was professionally, but I am glad it is mud season and things are a bit slow right now too. Gun-shy... For those that care about such things, in the end it ended up being 20 stitches right between the eye brows with a Stihl MS 461. Be safe out there, it happened fast. I never knew what hit me until I went back and finally had a look. It took two separate trips to see the spring pole (now straight) cut off at 15 feet high in the air. The two red arrows in the first picture show the spring pole ends. They would have met before I sawed through it. I did not have the strength though to make the spring pole ends meet, that was how much force was on it. In the second photo, you can see where I was cutting off the bottom branch, but that when I cut through teh spring pole it launched teh saw upwards by the blue, then green arrows and up into my face. You will also note how the cut is not straight, but arcs to the right, the saw was really moving when it got shot upwards!
Wow, you had a close call. Glad you're still around to talk about it. Now, had you been wearing a forestry helmet, would you still have had the chain wound?
Glad you are okay. I had something similar happen once, luckily aside from bruises I did not get hurt. Luckily you will live to saw another day
Wow that is a heck of a story. I guess it could have been worse seeing you are at least here to tell us about it. Those are not real big branches but a lot of energy stored in them. Wow right between the eyes. That is some scary stuff. Sorry to hear about it and keep getting better.
Thank you for sharing. No doubt your story will help someone. It will stay in the back of my mind when I'm out there.
Yup. Gotta keep your head in the game. Sorry about the whole ordeal, glad you pulled through it and didn't panic. Personal acquaintances have not had the same fortunate luck.
glad youre still here to tell us the story. Be safe out there, ESPECIALLY until your head is back on straight!
Wow, thank you for sharing that. Doing so could save a life here. Very glad for you and your family that you walked (ran) away with hopefully just a beauty mark to show for it. As mentioned above, I will definitely be keeping a closer eye on tension with downed trees and limbs!
OP mentions that the initial spring up knocked his helmet off. Would a chin strap maybe have made the difference? I suppose that's a question only our maker could answer. I do have a new respect for head protection since a co worker nearly lost his son to a collapsing chimney. He had just removed his helmet to wipe his brow and take some water when a brick chimney collapsed. He is recovering, but slowly, and perhaps not fully.
Man, the guy don't come around here for months, and then comes back with a story like this! Thanks, a good reminder to pay attention, and "be prepared" I cut by myself often times but I always have a phone in my pocket and not usually very far from civilization either Glad you still here to tell the story!
