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***WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS A GRAPHIC IMAGE*** A senior Illawarra paramedic says a man is “extremely lucky” after the disc of an angle grinder he was working with exploded and struck him in the head, leaving a piece lodged in his skull. Emergency services were called to a home on Lendine Street at Barrack Heights about 12.30pm on Tuesday, where they found a 52-year-old man with serious head injuries. NSW Ambulance Inspector Norm Rees said the man sustained a suspected skull fracture and a significant laceration to his forehead. “The blade has exploded and it’s fragmented and hit his right temple region, a piece of the blade is still stuck in his head,” Inspector Rees said. “This man has been extremely lucky – his injuries could have been much worse.” The man was taken by road ambulance to the Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park. He was then flown via rescue helicopter to Sydney’s St George Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Inspector Rees said the incident was a reminder of the need to ensure safety precautions were in place when using such equipment. Read more: Why failing to lock your car can set you back more than $100 “The public need to understand that power tools can operate with tremendous force, which is why you need to wear personal protective equipment to protect vulnerable areas,” he said. “This incident is an excellent illustration of why you need to protect those vulnerable areas – your eyes, your neck and your head.”

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