‘Cut straight off’: NT fisho Josh Vaughan loses finger in boat trailer accident

A Top End man has given a thumbs up along with the assuring words of ‘she’ll be right’ after losing a part of his hand in a boat trailer accident on Thursday.

Josh Vaughan has had part of his finger sewn back on after it was amputated in an accident involving a boat trailer. Picture: Supplied

A YOUNG man has given a thumbs up along with the assuring words of “she’ll be right” after losing a part of his hand in a boat trailer accident on Thursday.

Wagait Beach resident, Josh Vaughan, 22, was loading a boat trailer with the boat on it to a ute in Winnellie when a sharp corner of the trailer cut off the top of his ring finger.

He said it was a “messy” accident, but he has walked away with a full finger – albeit a “bit shorter” – after the amputated bit was reattached in surgery.

“There’s a couple of centimetres missing. The sharp bit went under more so than across, so it took a bit more of the underneath off,” he said.

“My boss had to go over and pick up my finger off the trailer.

“It was reattached on Thursday night after some last-minute surgery at the hospital.”

Josh Vaughan has had part of his finger sewn back on after it was amputated in an accident involving a boat trailer. Picture: Supplied

Mr Vaughan, who is no stranger to the boating lifestyle, wasn’t even near water when the incident happened, and was attaching the trailer to take the set-up to the Darwin Show Grounds for the 4WD, Boating & Camping Expo this weekend.

“Personally when it first happened I didn’t look at it,” he said.

“I thought it was a bruise initially.

“Then I actually brought my hand out and both hands ended up being covered in blood.

“It was gross.

MORE TOP NEWS

NT Police officer Kristi Louise Wenck faces court charged with leaking ‘official secrets’

‘A new chapter’: Jabiru to be returned to traditional owners tomorrow

Border Force picks up massive shipment of illicit tobacco in Darwin

“After we washed it off, my finger didn’t bleed too badly with all the adrenaline rushing through.

“When it happened my hand was on top of a latch on the trailer that goes on top of the tow ball and obviously it was too high where the tray was and the tray is basically – it’s a sharp corner.

“It’s gone straight in and out and cut it straight off.”

He said the moment he realised a part of his finger was missing involved a moment of shock before a lot of panicked swearing.

So how does losing a finger feel?

“When the drugs wore off last night it was pretty painful, until I got back on them,” he said.

“Now, the day after it’s like a really hard sting at the moment.”

Mr Vaughan said the boat and trailer eventually made it to the showgrounds for the show this weekend.

“I might make an appearance,” he said.

Follow @jasmineaburke