A maintenance worker at an Ohio state park who suffered a rare internal decapitation - and miraculously survived - has shared the heartbreaking thought that hit him when it thought he may not make it.
Philip Pohle, 32, was removing dead trees from a road at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio last month when his foot became stuck on the gas pedal of a front loader he was driving. The vehicle accelerated and a branch struck his neck, forcing his skull away from his spine.
Pohle told WBNS that while he was trapped in the front loader, all he could think about was his two children and how much he would miss them if he died.
“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 said.
Pohle survived and is even walking again after suffering an atlanto-occipital dislocation. Commonly referred to as an internal decapitation, it occurs when the ligaments in an individual's neck are severed or severely injured, leaving their skull disconnected from their spine, according to the National Institute of Health.
State natural resource officers rushed to his aid and managed to stabilize Pohle's neck using a brace while a work crew cut the loose tree away from the branch in his neck using a chainsaw. Because of his remote location, emergency workers estimated it would take approximately 20 minutes to reach him. A medical helicopter was called but had to be grounded due to bad weather.
Pohle told the broadcaster that he believes that if he'd been working alone on the day of the incident he would have died in the front loader.
Despite the delays, Pohle survived and made it to the Grant Medical Center in Columbus. Surgeons used plates and screws to stabilize his skull in alignment with his spine.
Internal decapitations are often fatal.
“About 50 percent of the patients with this kind of injury die at the scene, so of the other 50 percent who make it to the hospital, a significant amount of those are paralyzed,” Dr Victor Awuor, a neurosurgeon with OhioHealth Physician Group, told WBNS.
Despite the dire prognosis for those who experience an internal decapitation, Pohle has made a speedy recovery. He is currently walking without assistance. A GoFundMe has been established for Pohle to help his family cover the cost of his medical bills.
He told the broadcaster that he hopes to return to work soon and encouraged people to be mindful that their lives aren't guaranteed.
“Love deeply and have a grace with people. Be patient, be kind.
Tomorrow is not guaranteed,” he said.
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