Man in hospital after ‘chainsaw incident’ at Bearpark Colliery Woods

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to Bearpark Colliery Woods near Durham just before 11.45am on Wednesday (July 15).

The scene of the incident at Bear Park Colliery Woods near Durham today (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

Police have now confirmed the man, a forester, was taken to hospital by paramedics.

An eyewitness said they saw the air ambulance circling before heading to the woods, where emergency services had gathered.

The scene of the incident at Bear Park Colliery Woods near Durham today (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

They told the Northern Echo: “I was at my parents house and watched the air ambulance circling so decided to go have a look.

“I got down to Bear Park Colliery Woods and saw a crowd, an ambulance, the air ambulance, and so many police.

“I got down there and spoke to the emergency services there, who said a worker was injured with a chainsaw in a freak accident, but I don’t know how bad it is.”

The scene of the incident at Bear Park Colliery Woods near Durham today (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

The scene of the incident at Bear Park Colliery Woods near Durham today (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

A spokesperson for GNAAS said: “Our critical care team was activated at 11.33am to reports of an industrial incident in Bearpark Colliery Woods. We had two doctors and a paramedic on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 11.48am.

“Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to assess and treat a patient.

“The patient was taken to hospital by a NEAS road crew, accompanied by our team.”

The scene of the incident at Bear Park Colliery Woods near Durham today (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called to a person injured in Bear Park Colliery Woods, Durham, at 11.21am on 15 July.

“We dispatched a double crewed ambulance, a duty officer, a specialist paramedic, two vehicles from our Hazardous Area Response Team and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service. One patient was taken by road to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.”

The scene of the incident at Bear Park Colliery Woods near Durham today (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “We were called just before 11.45am to reports of a forester being injured whilst working in Bear Park Colliery Woods.

“Officers assisted the ambulance service who transported the man to hospital.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Durham County Council for a comment.