Pennsylvania Tree Trimmer Survives Chain Saw Embedded in Neck

April 3, 2014

A tree trimmer was recovering in a day after he was rushed to a Pittsburgh hospital – with a chain saw blade still embedded in his neck – following a work-related accident.

An X-ray released Tuesday shows the saw still in 21-year-old James Valentine’s neck.

He was up a tree in a harness when he was struck in the neck by the saw Monday afternoon in Ross Township. Another worker helped him down, and workers left the saw in place so Valentine wouldn’t bleed more than he already was.

Valentine had emergency surgery to repair his injuries at Allegheny General Hospital, where doctors say the saw missed major arteries and, instead, cut into Valentine’s muscle.

Valentine works for Adler Tree Service in Gibsonia, whose owner, Dominic Migliozzi, is calling the rescue “amazing.”