rirv
01-23-2009, 06:25 AM
http://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/latest-north-west-news/Policeman-speared-through-eye-making.4900188.jp
Policeman speared through eye making first arrest
Published Date: 22 January 2009
A rookie Greater Manchester policeman has had a miracle escape after being speared through the eye with a 6in tree branch while making his first arrest.
PC John Nash, 25, was just six days into his job when he tackled the suspect and bravely carried on the pursuit despite suffering the horrific injury after stumbling head-first into a bush in Rochdale.
It was only when the suspect turned to him and said: "Mate, you've got to go to hospital," that PC Nash realised how serious his injury was.
The branch snapped off after skewering his eyelid, smashing a cheek bone, going under his eye ball and coming to rest up against his brain.
PC Nash, from Droylsden, had been running across grass when he slipped in the bush and "just thought I'd given myself a black eye".
He then looked across with his right eye - to notice the stick coming out of his left eye.
Colleagues immediately took him to Fairfield Hospital in Bury in their patrol car. He later had three hours of surgery at Royal Blackburn Hospital to remove the stick.
Surgeons warned the officer and his fiancee Rebecca Senior, 23, he may lose his eye and suffer brain damage - but fortunately he escaped without further complications.
Mr Annaswami Vijaykumar, consultant ophthalmologist for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "If the piece of wood had entered a couple of millimetres differently the eye would have been permanently damaged.
The 20-year-old suspect he arrested was later released without charge.
Policeman speared through eye making first arrest
Published Date: 22 January 2009
A rookie Greater Manchester policeman has had a miracle escape after being speared through the eye with a 6in tree branch while making his first arrest.
PC John Nash, 25, was just six days into his job when he tackled the suspect and bravely carried on the pursuit despite suffering the horrific injury after stumbling head-first into a bush in Rochdale.
It was only when the suspect turned to him and said: "Mate, you've got to go to hospital," that PC Nash realised how serious his injury was.
The branch snapped off after skewering his eyelid, smashing a cheek bone, going under his eye ball and coming to rest up against his brain.
PC Nash, from Droylsden, had been running across grass when he slipped in the bush and "just thought I'd given myself a black eye".
He then looked across with his right eye - to notice the stick coming out of his left eye.
Colleagues immediately took him to Fairfield Hospital in Bury in their patrol car. He later had three hours of surgery at Royal Blackburn Hospital to remove the stick.
Surgeons warned the officer and his fiancee Rebecca Senior, 23, he may lose his eye and suffer brain damage - but fortunately he escaped without further complications.
Mr Annaswami Vijaykumar, consultant ophthalmologist for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "If the piece of wood had entered a couple of millimetres differently the eye would have been permanently damaged.
The 20-year-old suspect he arrested was later released without charge.