
Next time you’re out doing yardwork, be more careful with your woodchipper. One man found out the hard way that using powerful machinery like this can go wrong very, very easily – and it can have serious consequences.
At a glance:
- John O’Neill, 33, tragically lost both legs after a freak accident involving a wood chipper on his first day of work.
- A branch being loaded into the machine got caught on his ankle monitor, pulling him into the chipper and causing severe injuries.
- O’Neill survived the ordeal and plans to focus on recovery, including getting prosthetic legs and staying active with a nonprofit organization.
John O’Neill, a 33-year-old Colorado man, experienced a horrific accident on September 23 during his first day of a tree care job in Longmont. A branch became entangled in the court-ordered ankle monitor he was wearing, pulling his legs into the wood chipper. The machine’s blades cut into his legs, stopping only at his mid-thigh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_iIJY-EE44
O’Neill remained conscious and called for help, but his coworkers, wearing ear protectors, couldn’t hear his cries at first. By the time they rescued him, he had lost both legs. He was airlifted to a hospital, where doctors informed him his heart had stopped at one point.
Despite the traumatic experience, O’Neill is determined to recover. The avid hiker and rock climber plans to get prosthetics and continue working with a nonprofit he connected with during his time in rehab. He has set ambitious goals for his future, saying, “I’m not going to listen to anyone who tells me that’s impossible.”
O’Neill’s family was deeply affected by the incident. His mother, Barbara, was so shocked that she had to be hospitalized for three days. However, O’Neill remains optimistic and grateful for the outpouring of support he has received, including from his high school wrestling coach, whom he reconnected with after the accident.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched by O’Neill’s friend, Garrett Safir, to help with medical expenses and his recovery. O’Neill, described as someone who “lives life on the edge,” is now focused on navigating this new challenge with determination and resilience.