John O’Neill, a Colorado tree worker, had a near-death experience with a wood chipper on his first day on the job, resulting in the loss of both of his legs. The accident occurred when a branch he was throwing into the machine caught his court-ordered ankle monitor and dragged him into the chipper. O’Neill had both legs amputated above the knee following the incident, but miraculously survived. This life-altering accident took place in Longmont, Colorado, on September 24.
As O’Neill was throwing a fish hook-shaped branch into the wood chipper only 15 minutes into his workday, the branch caught onto his ankle monitor and pulled him into the spinning blades. Despite his cries for help, his coworkers did not initially hear him due to wearing ear protection. O’Neill described feeling a fear for his life rather than just the loss of his limb as the accident unfolded. The traumatic experience led to the amputation of both legs above his knees, with skin, bones, muscle, and blood visible during the incident.
Remaining as calm as possible in the situation, O’Neill credits his coworkers for keeping him alive by quickly pulling him out of the wood chipper and applying tourniquets to his severely injured legs. After being rushed to the hospital and flown to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, O’Neill underwent further surgeries to amputate the remainder of his legs. Despite facing death during the helicopter ride to the hospital, O’Neill firmly believes the ankle monitor design played a significant role in preventing him from freeing himself from the wood chipper.
Recovering in the hospital, O’Neill reached out to his mother and reconnected with various people and organizations, including “the Phoenix,” a non-profit that focuses on sober events and activities for individuals battling addiction. Despite the challenges he faces, O’Neill is determined to make the most out of his situation and continue his recovery with high spirits. He plans to volunteer with the non-profit in leading rock climbing and CrossFit events with the assistance of adaptive specialists. O’Neill sees this as an opportunity to embrace the challenges and excitement that life has to offer.
O’Neill’s positive attitude and determination in his recovery have amazed those around him. His friend, George Safir, noted that O’Neill is progressing faster than expected and is eager to return to activities like rock climbing. The support of his friends, family, and community have helped O’Neill through this difficult time, and he is grateful for the second chance at life that he has been given. Despite the challenges of adjusting to life without his legs, O’Neill remains optimistic about the future and sees the accident as an opportunity to embark on new and exciting adventures.
