On March 31, Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an East River Road home in Whitefield on a report of an elderly man who had intentionally cut off his hand.

When deputies arrived they located the 85-year-old man and determined that he had intentionally used a table saw to cut his hand off just above the wrist and was actively resisting their attempts to render first aid.

Because of recent first aid training, the two deputies who initially responded to make the scene safe for Emergency Medical Services recognized the seriousness of the injury and were able to apply a tourniquet in order to stop the bleeding. 

A tourniquet and other lifesaving equipment had also been only recently issued to each Lincoln County deputies after receiving the proper training.

The man was transported by Lifeflight helicopter from Whitefield to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. It is believed that he was later transported to a Boston-area hospital in an attempt to reattach his hand. The result of this attempt is unknown.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by members of Delta Ambulance as well as the Whitefield Fire Department and First Responders.