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<< News & Events index
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Freak Logging Accident Ends in Rescue
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POLK COUNTY -- Capt. Mike Rusher of Polk County Fire District No. 1 was halfway up the
hillside when his paramedics contacted him from the accident scene a few hundred feet below
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October 27, 2009 |
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Craig Coleman
Source: Polk County Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY -- Capt. Mike Rusher of Polk County Fire
District No. 1 was halfway up the hillside when his
paramedics contacted him from
the accident scene a
few hundred feet below.
They had reached the injured logger they were
there to rescue in a rugged section of timberland
southwest of Pedee on Oct. 27.
Over a cell phone -- their radios had no signal --
Rusher was informed that the victim was alert
and responsive, but in incredible pain.
He had been impaled by a nearly 7-foot-long log.
There might have been an expletive uttered in
surprise, followed immediately by head scratching,
said Rusher, the incident commander.
"The first thing you think of is this guy needs an
operating room," he said. "It was amazing that he
was still alive."
The subsequent rescue of the man involved a specialized stretcher, a crane, a chain saw, a helicopter...and a lot of cooperation.
The accident took place about 1 p.m., on land owned by Forest Capital, just a few miles to the north of Forest Road 1490's junction with
Gage Road.
The victim was working with Rickreall-based Gahlsdrof Logging Inc. on a clear-cut operation. Company owner Jim Gahlsdrof declined to give
the man's name, but said he was setting chokers on logs being yarded up a hill on cables.
All of a sudden, a small tree, about 1« inch at the front, 3 inches at the base, broke loose. Airborne, it flew downhill and right into
the victim, Rusher said.
"It was like a javelin," he said. "It came right through his scapula and out of his flank on the front."
The victim was driven to his knees. Co-workers immediately surrounded him, supported him by his arms and called 9-1-1.
It took more than 50 minutes for Polk No. 1 emergency responders to reach the site. So steep was the logging road that firefighters were
advised only to send an ambulance the final four miles to the scene.
Two paramedics, Ben Stange and Chris Paulsen, hiked down the hill with equipment, tested the victim's vitals and administered pain
medication.
Next came the problem of moving him. The log jutted about two feet out of his front hip and four feet behind his shoulder. The man
couldn't move from the kneeling position and removing the wood from his body would cause him to bleed to death, Rusher said.
"We had to figure out a way to make the log smaller," Rusher said, "so one of the loggers used a chain saw and trimmed the stick at the
back and in the flank."
The Oregon National Guard, Coast Guard and private air ambulance company were all notified for a helicopter pickup.
But rather than wait several critical minutes, firefighters and loggers loaded the victim face down into a stokes basket and lifted him
a few feet off the ground using a logging crane located half a mile uphill.
Emergency officials and loggers took turns walking the basket about 500 feet up a 40 percent grade. Atop the hill, the man was
transported by ambulance a short distance to a Reach Air Medical Services helicopter, which flew him to Good Samaritan Hospital in
Corvallis.
Gahlsdrof said the employee underwent a three-hour surgery the evening of Oct. 27, and that he actually spoke with him the following
morning.
"He's expected to make a full recovery," Gahlsdrof said, noting he gave the rest of his shaken crew the next day off.
"It was very traumatic for all involved," he said. "Common (logging) injuries are bumps and bruises ... occasionally, you might twist an
ankle.
"This would be a once-in-a-career type of injury."
Rusher said it was one of the more unique rescues Polk No. 1 has been involved in. He had nothing but praise for the victim's coworkers.
"They did a remarkable job," he said. "They had coordinates for the helicopter, they had lots of knowledge working the chain saw,
running the sky hook, and how to get him uphill ... they made our job a lot easier."
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