Pictured: The man who had his arm re-attached after he chopped it off in a freak chainsaw accident
By
Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 6:15 PM on 08th October 2008
A grateful wife has thanked a neighbour who came to her husband's aid after he severed his arm in a horrific chainsaw accident at his home.
Surgeons said John Stirling is making good progress following surgery after his chainsaw slipped as he cut wood and sliced his arm off below the elbow.
Following the accident at his home on September 29, Mr Stirling knocked on neighbour Steve Francis's door and said: 'Please help, I've just cut my arm off.'
Recovery: John Stirling, with his wife Noreen, a week after he nearly lost his arm in a gardening accident
Mr Francis, 49, told how he placed the arm in a bag containing frozen pastries to help keep the limb cold before paramedics arrived.
Mr Stirling's wife, Noreen Stirling, said: 'Words alone can't begin to express our gratitude to Steve Francis who helped my husband immediately after the accident, and whose swift actions undoubtedly saved his life.'
Mrs Stirling also paid tribute to the team of surgeons at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, who helped reattached Mr Stirling's forearm during a 14-hour operation.
A paramedic carries the severed arm into hospital. Right: Steve Francis didn't panic and calmlypacked the arm in a bag of frozen pasties
She added: 'John and myself, and the rest of our family, would like to take this opportunity to give our greatest heart-warm thanks to the consultant plastic surgeon, Mr Khandwala and all the team at the Queen Victoria, who have so skillfully reattached John's forearm and looked after him.
'Lastly I would like to commend my husband for his bravery, strength and determination that has got him through this awful accident, and we look forward to him coming home soon.'
Consultant plastic surgeon, Asit Khandwala, said: 'We are pleased Mr Stirling continues to progress so well, and that the operation to replant his arm appears to have been a success.
'The patient is now on a long journey of the support he will need, including by our hand therapists, to restore movement and get back to normality.
Emergency alert: Mr Francis is taken to hospital after the accident last week
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great success story...neighbour should be nominated for man of the year
What happened to the Cornish pasties!; I hop eSteve was able to tak ethem home as a memento!
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My son uses one in his garden; scares me to death!
- Jane, Preston, Lancashire., 08/10/2008 19:26