- A 20-year-old firefighter sustained a severe hand injury in an accident at his second job.
- To aid in the healing process, surgeons surgically attached Anthony Seward’s hand to his abdomen.
- After six long years, Seward was finally able to return to his beloved firefighting job.
A firefighter’s hand was surgically sewn into his abdomen to facilitate healing after being crushed in a workplace accident.
In 2017, Anthony Seward, a 27-year-old firefighter from the UK, sustained injuries while cleaning machinery at his second job in a textiles company. His hand was saved but required a unique surgical procedure involving sewing it into his stomach for 24 days.
This surgical technique, known as a pedicled abdominal flap, was commonly used on soldiers during World War Two and in recent conflicts like Afghanistan. However, it is now rare due to the infrequency of these types of injuries, according to surgeon James Henderson.
When Seward woke up from the surgery, he discovered his hand had been sewn into his abdomen. Initially shocked, he refused to look at the injury and relied on a nurse to explain the situation.
Living with his hand sewn into his belly was ‘surreal’
Image provided by Anthony Seward
Although living with his hand sewn into his abdomen for three weeks felt surreal, Seward did not experience significant pain during this time. However, the mental impact was a major concern as he developed PTSD from the accident and experienced extreme boredom during his hospital stay.
Seward spent six weeks in the hospital and even celebrated his 21st birthday with the nurses who created a makeshift balloon out of a blown-up hospital glove.
Upon his discharge from the hospital, the recovery process continued. Seeking to regain his strength and sense of normalcy, he returned to the gym and eventually joined a physical disability rugby league team. Connecting with others who had experienced amputations helped him cope with his disability and put things into perspective.
Doctors initially said he couldn’t go back to being a firefighter
Given the severity of his injuries, doctors initially informed Seward that he would not be able to resume his role as a firefighter. However, in late 2022, he decided to test himself and attempt the necessary physical tests for the profession.
To his surprise, Seward met the minimum requirements and realized it was possible for him to become a firefighter again. With determination, he practiced the required drills and techniques to reach a similar standard as his colleagues.
He emphasized that if he couldn’t perform the job safely and on par with others, he would not pursue it. Through building up his strength and modifying his firefighter gloves to accommodate his disability, Seward passed his final training on May 19 and proudly returned to the job he loved.
“Being a firefighter provides me with the opportunity to help others when they need it the most. I couldn’t ask for more from a job,” he said.
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