A Devon man has hand his hand miraculously saved after surgeons were able to sew it into his stomach.
Anthony Seward thought that he had lost his hand when he got it caught in an industrial mangle while he was cleaning it at the beginning of a night shift at Heathcoat Fabrics in Tiverton, between Taunton and Exeter.
He was rushed to hospital in Bristol by air ambulance with four crushed fingers in an accident that his company described as 'a complete tragedy'.
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Using a century-old technique known as a Pedicled Abdominal Flap, doctors were able to save the majority of Anthony's hand by creating a pocket in his stomach and stitching his hand into it for a three week period while the skin healed and the blood flow from the hand continued.
Warning: Graphic Images
Credit: SWNS
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James Henderson, the surgeon who carried out the procedure, explained: "Normally there are more sophisticated ways of transplanting tissue but Mr Seward's injury was so severe it was decided to do it this way."
He went on to call the operation a 'very old-fashioned procedure' that has been in use since at least 1900 and is usually associated with war injuries, having seen plenty of use in World War Two and even as recently as the war in Afghanistan.
Mr Seward has endured two further operations that have now allowed his fingers to be separated and they can now move independently of each other. "I can't thank enough all those under the NHS services that treated me, the surgeons, nurses and paramedics. I can't thank them enough" Anthony said.
He still has no real use of his hand, however, and has lost his job as a fire fighter as a result. He must travel to Bristol twice a week and could yet still need to have the hand amputated.
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The Health and Safety Executive have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred a year ago. Anthony's employer admitted to failing health and safety procedures by failing to adequately stop workers from being able to access the L-Stenter Mangle at their factory in Westexe.
Heathcoat Fabrics have been fined after a broken barrier was decided to be contributory to the accident. A light curtain is meant to stop the action of the mangle when a light barrier is broken, but had been inactive since 2014 and a replacement had not been installed. Heathcoat had instead concluded in a risk assessment that a stop cord would be sufficient.
Credit: SWNS
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Judge Stephen Nicholls handed the firm a fine of £300,000, plus costs and a victim surcharge.
"Heathcoat Fabrics deeply regrets the incident which resulted in today's hearing" said Cameron Harvie, managing director. "As the court has today acknowledged, the company takes health and safety serious and has an established track record in safety performance.
"In the aftermath of the incident, we have taken the opportunity to further review and improve our existing safety systems. We have co-operated fully with the HSE in its investigation into the incident."
Anthony is still considering a a civil action against his former employers.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: Work, accident, Hospital