Tree trimmer remarkably survives after chainsaw cuts into his neck in freak accident

James Valentine, 21, was part of a crew pruning trees earlier this week when his chainsaw kicked back and the blade sliced into him

James Valentine, 21, was part of a crew pruning trees earlier this week when his chainsaw kicked back and the blade sliced into him.

A Pennsylvanian tree trimmer is 'lucky to be alive' after an accident sent a chainsaw blade several inches into his neck and shoulder.

James Valentine, 21, was part of a crew pruning trees earlier this week when his chainsaw kicked back and the blade sliced into him.

Startling x-ray images of Valentine's chest following the freak accident show the garden tool embedded in his chest.

His co-workers brought him down from the tree and he was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Staff at the hospital removed the motor of the saw but left the blade in Mr Valentine's neck in order to limit additional blood loss.

Speaking to CNN, Mr Valentine spoke of the horrific moment the device sliced into him.

"I felt it and I shut the saw off because it was in me and it was still running and then I was blood and I thought 'oh my gosh, what in the world'.

"I (had) revved it up and it just kicked out on me. I just remember trying to get down out of the tree.

"It could have been a lot worse, definitely."

‘It was just a freak accident. It could happen to anybody climbing a tree,’ he told KDKA. ‘The chainsaw came back at me and got stuck in my neck.’

He added: ‘Just seeing the blood just squirting out, that was crazy.’

Remarkably, Mr Valentine is now set to make a full recovery despite his shocking injury.

‘He was extraordinarily lucky and very blessed,’ said trauma surgeon Christine Toevs.