A MAN stabbed his father with scissors before sawing off his own hands.

Both men are in hospital fighting life-threatening injuries.

Emergency responders arrived at a house in Redding California, to find 59-year-old Gregory Dunn lying in his driveway with multiple stab wounds, according to news reports.

Jason Dunn, 27, was standing in the driveway with both of his hands cut off at the wrists.

Police suspect an argument led to the stabbing and believe the younger man cut off his own hands using a radial saw.

Neighbours heard the altercation, as did an unnamed witness who contacted authorities, CNN reports.

Gary Rinehart told CNN affiliate KRCR that he saw both men being wheeled from the scene into separate ambulances. The first, the son, had "a lot of blood at the end of his arms, like his hands weren't there." The second, the father, had "blood in the upper area."

"This is definitely the craziest thing that's ever happened on this street," Rinehart said.

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