SURGEONS are battling to save the fingers of a promising young musician after a horrific guillotine accident.

Richard Baines, 24, sliced off three of the fingers on his left hand while he was operating a cutting machine at work.

The keen guitarist and keyboard player also severed the tips of his little finger and thumb. And after two sessions of micro-surgery at Manchester's Withington Hospital Richard, of Arran Avenue, Blackburn, is waiting to hear whether he will regain the use of his hand.

Richard was working at Rossendale Packaging Services, in Victoria Street, Accrington, last Thursday when the accident happened.

His mother Elaine said: "The ambulance arrived almost immediately and, luckily, Rick was very calm.

"The ambulance crew packed the fingers in special sealed bags before they took him to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where I was waiting.

"He seemed very cool and collected. They took him to Withington and he had the operation that evening. But, although they have sewn the fingers back on, he has had to have another operation because there was a problem." She added that Richard bravely endured the operation under local anaesthetic, as the micro-surgery would have been less effective if he had been unconscious.

Friends have already flocked to his bedside to pass on messages of encouragement and Elaine said Richard had remained positive throughout his ordeal.

His sister Angela, 18, said: "It's been a real shock, but Rick is coping well. His main worry is that he might not be able to play the guitar or the keyboards again. He loves music and I know he would be devastated if he had to give it up."

A Withington Hospital spokeswoman said: "Richard has been in theatre twice since he arrived at Withington and is in a comfortable condition."

Rossendale Packaging Services manager Leo Kretscher said: "Richard was involved in an accident with a guillotine, but I'm afraid we can't say any more than that at the moment. The Health and Safety Executive are investigating."

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