OCSEA brother Philip Pohle is telling a rare story of survival in a recent spotlight by WBNS 10TV about his near internal decapitation on the job. Most don't live to tell their story.
The incident happened earlier this year in March while Pohle was clearing fallen trees from a park roadway. "A routine day clearing debris at Hocking Hills State Park turned into a life-threatening ordeal for 32-year-old maintenance worker Philip Pohle. It was an accident so severe that doctors say many victims don’t survive," the news story details. While Pohle says "he's not a medical miracle, doctors say surviving an internal decapitation is rare."
The article describes the quick action of co-workers who got the equipment under control and were able to stabilize his neck and call for help. "Because state natural resources officers carry trauma kits, they were able to stabilize his neck with a brace while other crews cut away the tree with a chainsaw," the article says. Pohle believes, if he had been working alone, he would not be alive today.
The article also details his amazing recovery to date: "It's been less than a month since his accident, and Pohle was already walking unassisted. It’s a recovery his doctor calls extraordinary. He now hopes to return to work and share his message of hope after coming so close to dying."
"I started thinking of my children because it was really nice being a dad. I just thought how much I was going to miss them, miss my babies,” he tearfully recalled. “Love deeply and have a grace with people. Be patient, be kind, tomorrow is not guaranteed,” he said.
Read his full story here or click below to watch the video news story: