A BATHURST man who severed two fingers in a woodchopping accident on Friday believes the quick actions of his two young sons saved his life.
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Henry Mahara, who is recovering in Westmead Hospital following emergency surgery on Friday, was splitting yellow box at his home on Friday afternoon when a moment's inattention with a hydraulic wood splitter resulted in him severing two of his fingers.
In shock, he ran to the back door screaming for his wife to help, but she had gone into town shopping.
His 11-year-old son Preston heard his dad screaming and came to assist.
He found the two severed fingers on the chopping block, picked them up and put them on ice in a plastic bag.
Henry’s elder son Nicolas applied first aid, as he was losing blood at an alarming rate, and got Henry to Bathurst Base Hospital quickly for medical treatment.
Henry says he has no doubt both his sons not only contributed to saving his fingers, which have since been successfully re-attached, but also his life.
Recalling the accident Henry said he was in the front yard splitting the wood when he lost concentration for a second.
"I had one hand on the block and the other hand on the lever. I bent down and the next thing I know I'd cut off two fingers. I just couldn't believe what I done. I looked down and there was blood squirting everywhere.
“I ran to the door to get my wife, but it hadn't clicked she gone shopping. Because I was screaming my 11-year-old came to see what was wrong he picked up the two fingers ran inside and got a plastic bag and put them on ice.
“It was incredible. Because they got me there so quickly they managed to save both my fingers.
"The nurses and specialists said they did everything right.
"I really think if they hadn't acted so quickly I would have died, they saved my life.”
Henry said he could not believe his children acted so well under pressure.
“They both did cub scouts and learnt first aid when they were young and their mother's a nurse as well so she has gone through what to do if something goes wrong,” he said.
Once at Bathurst Base Hospital, Henry was stabilised and airlifted to Westmead Hospital, where he will remain for a couple of weeks.
Following emergency surgery specialists believe his fingers will return to full function.
"At the moment I've got leeches on the wound, they help with blood supply to the area. Everything the doctors have done has been incredible,” Henry said.
"But I'm so proud of my boys, they are my heroes.”