BF mill worker hurt in accident
(Photo courtesy BOUNDARY AMBULANCE VIA FACEBOOK)First responders load a Boundary County resident onto a LifeFlight Network after a Thursday afternoon accident at a pulp mill.
BONNERS FERRY — A 42-year-old employee was critically injured Thursday after becoming trapped in logging machinery at a Boundary County pulp mill.
The employee, whose name and gender were not released, had to be extricated from the machinery after the accident near Cow Creek Road about 1:20 p.m. Thursday, according to a press release from Boundary County Emergency Management. The individual was flown via LifeFlight Network to Kootenai Health with several life-threatening injuries.
On its Facebook page, Boundary Ambulance reported that crews quickly realized the incident would likely need surgical intervention and requested a surgical team from Boundary Community Hospital. Boundary County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the hospital and transported the surgical team to the scene. Firefighters from Bonners Ferry Fire Department also responded to the mill with heavy rescue equipment and were able to extricate the injured individual.
Medics requested LifeFlight Networks to transport the individual to Kootenai Health for treatment.
“After stabilizing the patient on scene, the patient was transported with multiple traumatic injuries to Kootenai Health,” Boundary Ambulance officials reported in the post.
“We appreciate the efforts of all agencies who assisted in the afternoon’s difficult rescue and especially the physicians and staff from Boundary Community Hospital who came when requested.”
First responders from Boundary Ambulance, local fire departments, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office and Bonners Ferry Police also responded to the accident.