AN ENGINEER today spoke of how he was nearly snapped in half in a horrific works accident that ripped off half his left thumb and two fingertips.

Peter Ashworth, 51, of Richmond Street, Accrington, said he escaped death by turning to his side after getting caught and dragged into an industrial drill.

Mr Ashworth, who also suffered serious chest injuries in the incident at Kirk Engineering Ltd, West End Business Park, Oswaldtwistle, on February 21, is so traumatised that he now needs counselling.

It is not yet known whether he will recover feeling in his thumb and fingers but he has vowed not to return to work as long as the machine is there.

Mr Ashworth, who is left-handed, said: "I am not sleeping properly now. It just keeps going round in my head and I can even feel the pain when I think about it.

"I am going to have to see a counsellor."

Mr Ashworth said the accident happened when he went to sweep the drill. His glove and sleeve got caught and it dragged him in, tearing off his overalls, body warmer and T-shirt.

He said: "I would have snapped in half if I hadn't stood up and turned sideways. It is a massive drill and it would have killed me.

"I am lucky to be alive because it could easily have split me in two.

"I had gloves on when the accident happened and the rest of the thumb was in my glove. When I took the glove off all the tendons from my arm came out like a piece of string. "The lads at work put my thumb in a bag but doctors couldn't sew it back on because the tendons had gone.

"I am not sure whether I will get the feeling back in my thumb and doctors don't know the extent of the damage yet.

"My chest is still in a lot of pain.

"I have asthma and when the accident happened I really gave my chest a bang. It was completely black and blue.

"Doctors tried to take four X-rays but couldn't make out whether there was any damage because I was so bruised.

"While that machine is there, there is no way I am going back to work. I just couldn't face working on it again."

Mr Ashworth lost half of his thumb just below the knuckle and his middle finger just below the nail. He also lost the tip of his ring finger to the nail.

Doctors had to pull the skin from his palm over his thumb but do not know whether he will get any feeling back in it.

Mr Ashworth, who has been married to Brenda for 16 years and has three step-sons, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and later transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital where he underwent surgery.

He was released on Sunday and is recovering at home.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the accident.

Peter Ashworth is pictured showing his bandaged hand.

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