PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 28-year-old tree feller in Pattaya narrowly avoided losing several fingers in a chainsaw accident while working on a large tree.
Afternoon accident during tree-felling work
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m., while a team was cutting down a large eucalyptus tree. According to rescue officials, the man was in the process of cutting through the trunk at its base when the chainsaw suddenly kicked upward.
The injured worker was identified as Thakthawat Ngamkaem (28). He sustained deep cuts to the index and middle fingers of his left hand and was in severe pain when rescuers arrived.
Chainsaw kickback left almost no time to react
Initial assessments suggested that the kickback was caused by a combination of the tree’s size and internal tension in the trunk, which made the saw difficult to control. In that moment, the tool swung violently and struck the worker’s hand.
Thakthawat told responders that he had worked for many years as a professional tree contractor.
“The accident happened exactly when I changed my grip on the saw to alter the cutting direction. There was no time to react when the blade shot toward my hand.”
said Thakthawat Ngamkaem, contractor.
Rapid emergency response and hospital transfer
Volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center responded together with medical emergency teams from the city of Pattaya immediately after the call for help. On site, they provided first aid, stopped the heavy bleeding and stabilized the injured hand.
Thakthawat was then transported to Pattaya Patmakun Hospital for further treatment and urgent surgical assessment. Information on the final condition of his fingers was initially not available.
Rescuers issue warning over powerful tools
Emergency personnel used the incident to again highlight the dangers posed by high-powered equipment, particularly:
• Chainsaws
• Grinders
• Cutting and separating tools
Rescue officials urged workers to always use full personal protective equipment and to carefully inspect tools before each use. They warned that accidents involving high-performance machines can cause permanent injuries or even be fatal within fractions of a second if safety rules are ignored.
Calls for greater caution in hazardous jobs
“Such incidents happen very quickly and without warning.”
said rescue workers.
They expressed hope that this latest accident would prompt other employees in dangerous occupations to exercise greater caution when handling heavy machinery and sharp equipment.