• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Man who had face electrocuted off at work gets world first eye and face transplant

Home> News> Health

Published 13:14 10 Nov 2023 GMT

Man who had face electrocuted off at work gets world first eye and face transplant

Aaron James underwent groundbreaking surgery after suffering an horrific accident

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

Back in 2021, a man lost half his face after being electrocuted.

Aaron James survived the high-voltage electrical accident and has now undergone a world-first transplant.

The man from Hot Springs, Arkansas, had accidentally touched a live wire with his face, suffering a deadly 7,200-volt electric shock.

James, 46, had extensive injuries from the accident, such as the loss of his left eye, his entire nose, lips, front teeth, left check area and chin down to the bone. He also lost his left arm from above the elbow.

Advert

The military veteran is now the first man in the world to have a complete eye transplant.

With over 140 healthcare professionals involved, James also had a rare partial face transplant in May this year, lasting approximately 21 hours.

The surgical team from NYU Langone Health performed this world first with both the entire left eye and portion of face coming from a single donor.

It is the only successful combined transplant case of its kind.

Aaron with his daughter before the surgery.
The James family/NYU Langone Health

Advert

It’s not currently known if James will regain sight, but the surgeons said in a release yesterday (9 November) that the transplanted eye has ‘shown remarkable signs of health’.

“Aaron has been extremely motivated to regain the function and independence he lost after his injury. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect patient,” said Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, one of the leading surgeons on the case.

“The mere fact that we’ve accomplished the first successful whole-eye transplant with a face is a tremendous feat many have long thought was not possible.

“We’ve made one major step forward and have paved the way for the next chapter to restore vision.”

Post transplant.
Ross Geltman/NYU Langone Health

Advert

James lost a lot of independence after the accident, struggling with food and eventually having his eye removed due to severe pain.

After being discharged from the surgery – which used 3D-printing for the face – he continued rehabilitation including physical, occupational and speech therapy.

“I’m grateful beyond words for the donor and his family, who have given me a second chance at life during their own time of great difficulty. I hope the family finds solace in knowing that part of the donor lives on with me.

“I will also forever be thankful to Dr Rodriguez and his team for changing my life. My family and I wouldn’t have been able to navigate this difficult journey without their expertise and support.”

He told NBC News: “I just look like a normal person walking down the street.”

Featured Image Credit: AP

Topics: Science, Health, Mental Health, Good News, US News, Technology

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    World's 'first flying car' is going on sale much sooner than you think

    Flying cars are still something for the future, but apparently the rapidly approaching future

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Experts issued warning over certain tattoo colour that could increase risk of deadly disease

    There can be some long-term health risks to going under the tattoo needle

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Man who didn't sleep for a record 264 hours suffered from horrendous and potentially deadly side effects

    He smashed the record but suffered dangerous side effects in the process

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    The targets Iran could strike as it issues chilling threat to UK amid ongoing conflict

    The world isn't feeling particularly safe right now

    News
  • Man who had world’s first successful face and double hand transplant spoke out about life-changing car crash
  • Man who was arrested after being only person at first 'suicide pod' death takes his own life
  • Heartbreaking reason man who had £190,000 lifetime first-class plane ticket cancelled was sued by the airline
  • Man explains theory of Epigenetics after man who received heart transplant goes on to live same life and death as donor