A former Royal Engineer has said he was fortunate to survive a catastrophic hand injury after neighbors rushed to his aid and an air ambulance transported him to hospital within minutes.
Joe Hough, 64, from Pattishall in Northamptonshire, was working on his daughter’s campervan on 20 March when an electric circular handsaw slipped, cutting through his ulna bone as well as severing an artery, nine tendons, and two nerves in his right hand.
Mr. Hough reported that he immediately realized the seriousness of the accident when he saw the extent of the bleeding. Hearing his cries for help, around six neighbors responded within moments. One of them contacted emergency services, while others improvised first-aid measures to stem the blood loss.
According to Mr. Hough, his neighbors fashioned a makeshift tourniquet from a belt and took turns applying pressure to the wound. He later reflected that their swift actions had saved his life, explaining that there had only been a short window of a few minutes to control the bleeding before the situation could have become fatal.
Air Ambulance Flight in 11 Minutes
Emergency responders arranged rapid transport via The Air Ambulance Service, and Mr Hough was flown to University Hospital Coventry in just 11 minutes. He said he believed the speed of the air ambulance transfer had played a crucial role in saving his hand and preventing further complications.
The retired Army veteran recalled that his memory of the incident was limited to boarding the helicopter, after which he woke following seven-and-a-half hours of surgery.
Medical teams worked to repair the extensive damage. Although Mr. Hough later developed a bone marrow infection in September, he said he was now recovering steadily and hoped to return to his job as a lorry driver within the coming months.
Charity Challenge to Repay Air Ambulance Cost
Grateful for the lifesaving response, Mr. Hough plans to undertake a charity challenge next spring to support the air ambulance service that transported him. Alongside his family, he intends to participate in an Ultra Challenge on the Isle of Wight, walking approximately 106 miles around the island over two days. He noted that while he had previously completed the Nijmegen Four Days March in the Netherlands during his military career, this new challenge would test him, given his age. His goal is to raise £2,000, which he understands to be roughly the cost of his rescue flight, as a gesture of appreciation for the air ambulance crew and the neighbors who helped save his life.
