HOCKING COUNTY, OH — A 32-year-old maintenance worker is being called a walking miracle after surviving a horrific workplace accident that literally separated his skull from his spine.
Phillip Pohle, a dedicated father from Hocking County, was performing routine maintenance and clearing debris at the popular Hocking Hills State Park on March 13 when a freak accident nearly ended his life. While using a front loader to push a large tree off the road, Pohle’s foot became stuck on the gas pedal, causing a tree branch to thrust directly through his neck.
‘I Thought of My Babies’
The impact was so severe that Pohle described hearing a “pop” or a “crack” before realizing the gravity of his injury. As he sat injured, his thoughts immediately turned to his family.
“I started thinking of my children because it was really nice being a dad,” Pohle told local outlet WBNS through tears. “I just thought how much I was going to miss them, miss my babies.”
Pohle’s coworkers are being hailed as heroes for their quick thinking. They stabilized his neck and used a saw to cut away the tree branch while waiting for emergency responders. Due to severe weather conditions, Pohle could not be airlifted and had to be intubated on the scene before being rushed by ambulance to Grant Medical Center in Columbus.
A Rare Medical Phenomenon: Internal Decapitation
At the hospital, neurosurgeon Dr. Victor Awuor delivered a chilling diagnosis: Pohle had suffered an “internal decapitation.” This rare and usually fatal injury occurs when the ligaments and structures connecting the skull to the spinal column are severed, even though the skin remains intact.
Surgeons worked tirelessly to reattach Pohle’s skull using a complex system of:
- Metal Plates
- Screws
- Rods
Against all odds, Pohle survived the surgery without any broken bones, a fact that has stunned his medical team.
Community Rallies as Medical Bills Mount
While Pohle’s survival is a miracle, his road to recovery is paved with financial hardship. Pohle is the primary provider for his girlfriend, Haley Davidson, and their two young children. Haley is a stay-at-home mother, and with Phillip unable to work, the family is facing a “devastating blow” to their stability.
A GoFundMe organized by family friend Brittany Berry has been launched to help cover mounting medical expenses and the cost of living.
- The Goal: $30,000
- Status: Nearly $13,000 has been raised so far.
“He has an extremely lengthy road to recover and sadly bills and costs of living will not pause for their family,” Berry wrote in the fundraiser description.
How You Can Help
The Hocking Hills community and residents across Ohio are encouraged to support the Pohle family during this difficult time. Whether through donations or sharing Phillip’s incredible story of resilience, every bit of help counts.
What do you think of Phillip’s incredible survival? Have you ever witnessed a “miracle” recovery like this?
Leave a message of support for Phillip and his family in the comments below, and share this story to help reach the GoFundMe goal!
