[1]The mowing tractor is parked after accident in Mossyrock. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 3
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A man cutting a hayfield in Mossyrock who fell onto the blades of his hay mower yesterday is expected to survive but likely faces a long road to recovery.
Lewis County Fire District 3 was called by someone at the trailer court next to property on the 200 block of Mossyrock Road West about 5:30 p.m.
“At the time of the incident he was alone, but when I got there, people were around,” Fire Chief Doug Fosburg said. “He was conscious and alert, but in a lot of pain.”
Fosburg said it was an older style piece of equipment – with five blades – where the cutting surfaces are exposed, not shielded.
The victim, who he estimated is in his 40s, had pretty severe cuts on all four extremities with quite a bit of blood loss and will probably lose some fingers, Fosburg said. Both legs and one arm were broken, he said.
He said responders were able to get him stabilized fairly quickly, administering fluids, and splinting and dressing his wounds.
He was airlifted from Mossyrock High School to Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, according to Fosburg.
“He’s very lucky no vital organs were hit,” the chief said.
It didn’t appear the injuries were life-threatening, but it’s definitely going to be a long road, he said.
[2]Hay mower blades / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 3