Chainsaw retailer turned hero Doug Jensen. By Melissa Donchi
TWENTY-year-old Mark Kay lay trapped in the bush for nearly two hours last week after a giant tree he was cutting for firewood fell back and crushed his legs.
Mr Kay made repeated cries for help as he lay shivering and wet on the ground last Tuesday afternoon from 1.45pm until a nearby property owner, Stewart Kerr, discovered him.
Wet and windy weather conditions made the rescue mission difficult but he was eventually airlifted to The Alfred hospital with severe leg injuries.
A swarm of emergency vehicles attended the scene, including the Healesville Police, SES and CFA but it was a local chainsaw dealer, Doug Jensen that really came to Mr Kay’s rescue.
Mr Jensen, a logging contractor for nearly 30 years, was first on the scene after Mr Kay requested his assistance.
“When I finally found Mark the first thing he said was ‘call an ambulance and get Doug Jensen down here,” Mr Kerr said.
“He came running across the river with his chainsaw and cut the tree away within five minutes.”
CFA Captain Graham Bates said Mr Jensen had been at the right place at the right time.
“The tree was at least 20 metres high with a 600 millimetre diameter,” Mr Bates said.
“If anyone was cutting a tree off me I’d want it to be Doug – there’s not many people around with his experience.”
Mr Jensen said he was happy to help and that he was glad it all went well.
“It was a pretty tricky situation and there weren’t too many options at the time,” Mr Jensen said.
“It’s the first time I’ve cut a tree off someone and I’m just glad it worked out.”
Mr Kerr said the young man was very lucky to be alive.
“If my wife hadn’t been outside that day and heard him calling it might have been too late,” Mr Kerr said.
“Luckily, I was home that day as well and Doug was able to attend otherwise it may have turned out very differently.”
Mark’s mother Julie Kay said he would undergo operations on his leg during the next week or so.
“He’s just flat on his back at the moment but we hope he’ll make a full recovery.”
