Philip Pohle, 32, with his children. (Credit: Haley Davidson)
HOCKING COUNTY, Ohio - An Ohio father of two is on the road to recovery after suffering a rare internal decapitation from a work accident while he was clearing trees.
The backstory:
Philip Pohle, 32, recounted last month's near-fatal accident that unfolded on an "incredibly windy day," with gusts reaching 60 miles per hour.
While using a tractor to clear a fallen tree from the road, a branch or separate limb—bent under extreme tension—suddenly snapped loose.
"It cut loose… and it struck me across the shoulders and in my chest… just as fast as a rattlesnake," he told FOX Television Stations.
The force of the impact left him unable to move, though he remained conscious.
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As blood ran down his face, his foot stayed on the gas pedal, and the tractor continued rolling forward into the tree.
Pinned against the tree, he felt mounting pressure in his head and neck and realized the severity of the moment:
"I had a lot of time to consider, I am probably dying, this is really bad." He then felt "a grisly pop and a crack," signaling a devastating injury.
A natural resources officer rushed in after hearing a radio call—"there’s a tree on him"—and shut off the tractor, likely saving Pohle’s life. Coworkers arrived shortly after and cut the tree away.
Pohle recalled the sound of the chainsaw as "one of the most beautiful sounds I’d ever heard," after being pinned for several minutes.
An Ohio father of two is recovering after surviving a rare and life-threatening internal decapitation caused by a freak work accident while clearing storm-damaged trees. (Credit: Haley Davidson)
Responders stabilized his neck—despite his head reportedly lying on his shoulder—and carefully moved him onto a backboard.
Realizing he could still move his feet, he thought, "wow, that’s pretty good… I’m not currently paralyzed."
He was transported first to a local emergency room, then to a hospital in Columbus due to the severity of his injuries.
Pohle credits the quick, decisive actions of those on scene with saving his life and preserving his mobility, given how close he came to catastrophic spinal damage.
What they're saying:
Pohle said he's expected to make a full or near-full recovery.
"I can walk very reliably," he added. "My balance is not as good as it used to be, but I can go upstairs, downstairs, stand on one leg."
"My arms have limited mobility, and my right eye is pointed towards my nose. So I suffer from double vision, which can also affect my ability to walk. But if I close my right eye, it's pretty good."
Pohle was transported to a Columbus hospital for treatment and is now expected to make a near-full recovery. (Credit: Haley Davidson)
He said he wants to be able to play with his two young children.
"Be able to walk around with them and run with them in the yard," he said. "I'd really love to be able to do that again."
He also offered some words of wisdom.
"Don't miss an opportunity to say ‘I love you’ because you really don't know when your time is up," he said. "It just happens so fast and there's nothing you can do if tragedy strikes. So never miss an opportunity to be kind because it might be your last opportunity."
What's next:
Pohle says he looks forward to returning to work, saying he loves his community, co-workers, family and friends.
He and his fiancé, Haley Davison, are planning to get married later this year.
"We're just so relieved that this is the outcome that he's going to be okay, and he's going to be able to recover, you know, with physical therapy and OT and speech and all that," she told FOX Television Stations.
What you can do:
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with medical expenses.
The Source: The information in this story comes primarily from an interview with Philip Pohle, who recounted the details of the accident and his recovery to FOX Television Stations. This story was reported from Los Angeles.