Man lost both legs in a freak accident just minutes after his first day in his new job, it was a “miracle” that he survived

Warning: This article contains graphic images that some readers may find disturbing.

The first day at a new job can always be a nerve-wracking day as you decide what to wear, where to sit and just hoping you don’t end up embarrassing yourself.

But the last thing you’re probably thinking about is the possibility of a terrible accident. And to this man’s dismay, he lost both legs just minutes into his first day.

It was a “miracle” that John O’Neill survived after taking a job as an arborist in Colorado, USA. The 33-year-old had been fitted with a court-ordered ankle monitor and was reportedly the one who got him into trouble.

Just 15 minutes into the workday, the Denver Post reports how he threw branches into a wood chipper and got caught in it himself.

O’Neill had grabbed a branch shaped like a fishing hook and thrown it into the machine, but the end of it caught on his tracking device and dragged his leg with it.

Then the rotating blades of the wood chipper began horrifically cutting off his toes, feet, ankles and legs.

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While the man’s colleagues went about their work, no one could initially hear his cries for help because they were all wearing hearing protectors.

“It took my colleagues a minute to realize what was going on,” he said.

Fearing for his life as the machine blades continued to turn, O’Neill began to fear the worst.

“Something happened in my brain and I realized I was afraid of much more than just losing my leg or foot,” the man said.

“The pain was a lot – it was almost not there. I didn’t feel the pain as much because I knew I was in trouble. It went from a fight for my limbs to a fight for my life very quickly.”

O’Neill says he “died” for a moment on the way to the hospital. (Garrett W. Safir / Facebook)

He tried to stay as still as possible, hoping to keep his heart rate down, as a colleague managed to pull him out just as the blade reached his mid-thigh.

During a helicopter ride to the hospital, he said he “technically died” because his heart stopped and his remaining legs were eventually amputated, requiring 15 liters of blood.

“They essentially replaced all the blood in my body,” O’Neill explained.

“It’s a miracle that John is still with us and he’s fighting harder than ever,” his friend George Safir wrote on GoFundMe.

“Our friend has always been pretty reckless and lived a life on the edge! And be a warrior in life.”

O’Neill volunteers for the nonprofit Phoenix, which supports those struggling with addiction, by leading climbing and CrossFit events.

O’Neill is recovering faster than anyone, as Safir adds: “John is in very good spirits and ready to get back to climbing.”