0:00:02 > 0:00:05Emergency!
0:00:05 > 0:00:07With mind-boggling medical mishaps
0:00:08 > 0:00:10and the quirkiest of casualties...
0:00:10 > 0:00:13My boyfriend dropped a turnip on my foot.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15This is Bizarre ER.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23And for the first time we've camped out in not one but two British hospitals -
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Northampton General and Bradford Royal Infirmary.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29PHONE RINGS Hello.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34To bring you the curious cases that are all in a day's work for the stoic staff...
0:00:34 > 0:00:38- Can you see your pound coin there? - '..but which have to be seen to be believed'
0:00:40 > 0:00:46Plus we've scoured the planet for the people who, thanks to amazing medics,
0:00:46 > 0:00:51have survived the most extraordinary accidents and emergencies known to man.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Nobody believes they are going to get the Black Death.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00So scrub up, sit back and enjoy the sometimes silly, often odd,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03but never dull world of Bizarre ER.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06All I can say is thank heavens for the NHS.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Thank you.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27Coming up tonight - a trip to the pub leaves one punter bent out of shape,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31a supersize splinter proves a real headache...
0:01:31 > 0:01:33God, it's huge.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38..and we find out how doctors use state-of-the-art techniques to put one man's face back together
0:01:38 > 0:01:44when a freaky forest accident shattered his skull to pieces.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47It was really incredible to think that he was still alive.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57But first, we're heading to Northampton General where three-year-old Elliot
0:01:57 > 0:02:05has arrived at A&E with dad James, stepbrother Jack and his favourite bathtime buddy Scuba Steve.
0:02:05 > 0:02:11Dad often has trouble separating Steve and Elliot but tonight it's proving especially tricky.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14My little boy's got a toy stuck on his finger.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17We've tried absolutely everything to try and get it off - ice,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21butter, even hitting it with a hammer
0:02:21 > 0:02:26and it just won't budge. And now it hurts that much he won't even let us touch it.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29It's his favourite bath toy so we're not allowed to break it.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Although they look like they make a cute couple this is potentially a dangerous duo.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Scuba Steve is cutting off the blood flow which could,
0:02:36 > 0:02:40in the worst case, spell serious trouble for Elliot's dinky digit.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44- I don't want it pulled off. - You don't want it pulled off, do we.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46- No.- You like Scuba Steve.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53To make sure Elliot and Scuba don't experience a painful parting
0:02:53 > 0:02:57staff need to numb the finger before they attempt to pull Steve off.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Rather than scare the poor wee mite with a nasty needle,
0:03:01 > 0:03:07they opt for some anaesthetic gel which will also lubricate the area and hopefully help Scuba slip off.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11See if you can twist it cos that's what the man's going to do in a minute.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13The doctor's going to give it a twist.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18While the nurses wait for the gel to take effect, Dad makes a final plea to Elliot to help himself.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Go on, you give it a pull, then. Show them how strong you are.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- Don't want to. - So what, you're going to
0:03:25 > 0:03:26let it sit on your finger forever?
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- Forever.- Forever?
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Elliot's having none of it so it will be down to nurse Phil
0:03:32 > 0:03:36to tug the toy loose with the minimum amount of pain and fuss.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Aargh!
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- Stop it, stop it.- That's it.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48In a matter of seconds, Scuba Steve is free but Elliot's not happy.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55And it looks like he's got a single-digit message for the assembled staff.
0:03:59 > 0:04:05To make sure Scuba Steve hasn't caused any lasting damage Elliot's sent for an X-ray.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09That's good.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15- Can you see your finger? You see that?- Mmm.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21That's your finger and the good thing is all those bones look normal.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27With the helping hand from the team at Northampton, Elliot's escaped a far worse fate.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29If it had been on any...much longer,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32I think he would have ended up going to theatre to get it removed.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35And despite all the tears before bedtime,
0:04:35 > 0:04:39there are no hard feelings between Elliot and his little plastic pal.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- Where is he?- There.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43In my pocket.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Shall we have a look at him now?
0:04:45 > 0:04:50That's little Scuba Steve but no fingers in him though, do we?
0:04:50 > 0:04:52- Why.- Cos if we get stuck we have to come back again.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04As with most hospitals, Bradford Royal Infirmary gets its fair share
0:05:04 > 0:05:09of alcohol-related accidents, just like our next case.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Did you feel dizzy or anything prior to the fall?- No. No.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16But Gerry Clarke didn't even make it to the pub before ending up with this bizarre bender.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18He just tripped
0:05:18 > 0:05:20on the crossing and then we picked him up
0:05:20 > 0:05:23and his finger was in a very peculiar position.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Would have helped if it had happened when I was coming from the pub - I wouldn't have felt it.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32We'll get you straight through as that needs pulling and it needs to go back into the joint.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35There's more to Gerry's freaky finger than meets the eye.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40Jilting his joint could have caused damage to the bones and the nerves in his digit
0:05:40 > 0:05:45but before doctors can check out how severe the injury is, they have to pull his pointer into place.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50What you need to do is you need to grip your teeth around it and suck as hard as you can.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56Sister Brook administers a bit of pain relief from the hospital's regular barrel, nitrous oxide,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58otherwise known as laughing gas.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01There you go. It's working. All right?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Just put your head back.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16But Gerry's laughter is soon cut short
0:06:16 > 0:06:20when Dr Simon Alzer arrives to click the wonky finger back into place.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Just going to inject both sides, OK?
0:06:24 > 0:06:29After a local anaesthetic to numb the pain it's time to put an end to Gerry's bender.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31As long as I don't see him doing it.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- You'll feel it but you won't see it. - Shut up, you.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Right I'm just gonna gently pull, OK?
0:06:39 > 0:06:41This is the part I don't like.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53That looks like it's back in nicely.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55How is that feeling?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57It wasn't as bad as I thought.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58Thanks...
0:07:00 > 0:07:01As I said...
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Before doctors can let Gerry loose for some liquid refreshment
0:07:05 > 0:07:09they need to do a quick but thorough check for damage to nerves and bones.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14The joints are nicely in line so it looks like it was just a clear dislocation.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18With the X-rays all clear Dr Alzer assesses the nerves.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22- Make a fist for me. - 'Well, it doesn't look like David Hay needs to lose any sleep'
0:07:22 > 0:07:27- 'but it shows that Gerry's drinking hand is back in action.'- Thank you very much.- You're welcome.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32Meaning that he and Stuart can finally continue their journey down the pub.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40A cheeky half down the local might not seem bad for your health
0:07:40 > 0:07:41but the boozer is home
0:07:41 > 0:07:43to bizarre injuries by the barrel.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46A staggering 42,000 accidents
0:07:46 > 0:07:48happen in pubs, bars
0:07:48 > 0:07:49and social clubs each year.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55And you don't even have to step inside to do yourself damage.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59In October 2010 a woman was taken to intensive care
0:07:59 > 0:08:03when a hanging basket outside one bar fell on her head.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Or John McMaster sustained serious neck injuries
0:08:07 > 0:08:12when he was levelled by a sun lounger that had blown off a nearby pub roof terrace.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16And in 2003, Christopher Prosper from Reading went from hostelry
0:08:16 > 0:08:18to hospital after he fell through
0:08:18 > 0:08:20an open cellar trap door.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Inside the average alehouse, you'll find trauma on tap.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Most tavern tumbles are due to slips on wet surfaces,
0:08:28 > 0:08:33though punters also come a cropper over carelessly placed coats and shopping bags.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and a poorly maintained bar stool rather than one too many sherries
0:08:36 > 0:08:38can also send you reeling.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39Last orders, anyone?
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Sporting injuries are not unheard of, either.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47Dave Farmer from Llandrindod Wells was showing off to his mates
0:08:47 > 0:08:51when he jumped off a snooker table and well and truly potted the pink
0:08:51 > 0:08:54by landing on his friend's upturned snooker cue,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56piercing his stomach and scrotum.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Anaesthetised by the eight pints he'd sunk, Dave was more concerned
0:08:59 > 0:09:04with finishing the game until pals persuaded him to head to A&E.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Best of three. Best of three!
0:09:06 > 0:09:08It's enough to make you turn to drink.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Next we're heading to Northampton General A&E which is not exactly
0:09:18 > 0:09:21where the Russo family hoped to find themselves
0:09:21 > 0:09:25when they left the house all set for an enjoyable family day out.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30The trip ended with a tumble for 13-year-old Kristian who's not only
0:09:30 > 0:09:35cut and bruised but also has a stick stuck in the side of his head.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38That's right - a stick in his head.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43I actually only remembered hitting the floor and then I get up and I'm in pain...
0:09:43 > 0:09:45it hurts so much.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Ow! I can't laugh.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53On their day out at a local country park,
0:09:53 > 0:09:57the family eschewed the usual sites in favour of a nearby quarry.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59The kids were keen to explore
0:09:59 > 0:10:01but Dad Vince insisted on testing the terrain first.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04I insist on testing the terrain first.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07And ventured gingerly down the steep gravel slope.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Eager to match Dad's bravado,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12plucky Chris thought he'd make a run for it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13But as his momentum built,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16the slippery slope got the better of him,
0:10:16 > 0:10:17he tripped, flipped
0:10:17 > 0:10:21and flew face first into a branch, impaling his head on a sharp twig.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26One antler up, it was time for this young Bambi to hit the hospital.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Oh DEER, Kristian...
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Get it? Get it?
0:10:30 > 0:10:33It frightened me because he hit it with such force
0:10:33 > 0:10:36and I had a look and that's when I noticed the branch...
0:10:36 > 0:10:38well, the bit of stick in his head.
0:10:38 > 0:10:44Doctors' first concern is the brain and Kris is sent straight to X-ray.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48If the splinter has penetrated his skull he could be in serious danger of brain damage.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50OK, that's it. Well done.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Dr Kunal Patel arrives with both good and bad news.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57The X-ray isn't showing any penetration into the skull.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59That's the good news.
0:10:59 > 0:11:05But confident there is no damage to the skull, medics can now set about the painful process of extraction.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- Owww.- Bit painful is it?- Yes...
0:11:08 > 0:11:10a bit sore as well.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- 'After a local anaesthetic...' - Oh-h-h, not again.- '..Dr Patel starts his pruning.'
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- Ready?- Yeah...
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Yay, there it is.- Is it out?
0:11:23 > 0:11:28But with a suspicious bulge on the skin, doctors twig there is still
0:11:28 > 0:11:31a sliver of splinter lodged in Kris's scalp
0:11:31 > 0:11:34and Registrar Dr Ejiro arrives to take on the tiny tree surgery.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40# I just can't get you out of my head... #
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Ahhh.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44# Your loving is all I think about... #
0:11:44 > 0:11:48- Ahhhh. - # I just can't get you out of my head... #
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Unable to uproot the stubborn splinter,
0:11:50 > 0:11:55Dr Ejiro has no option but to slice open the scalp and dig for the twig.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Bloody hurts.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Ahh...is it coming out?
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Is it out? Let's have a look.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13The wood chip is finally out and measures in at a whopping 5cm long.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15God, it's huge.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19The splinter might be out but Kris's crisis is not over yet.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25The gaping gash has to be cleaned out to avoid infection before being sewn back together.
0:12:25 > 0:12:32After a quick wash but alas no conditioner or head massage, Kris's crown is stitched up.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39That was an interesting one... definitely. Bizarre, I suppose.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43With Dr Ejiro's work done the family are free to head home.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48Hopefully there won't be any more pain for me cos it kills.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Fun day out at Northampton General Hospital.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Maybe stick with the cinema for the next family outing, eh, guys?
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Having a slash in your scalp might not be pleasant but our next patient
0:13:03 > 0:13:07has come to Northampton General with a much more grisly gash.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Are you in a lot of pain?
0:13:09 > 0:13:14Carpenter Martin Chew has arrived at A&E after accidentally taking a saw to his paw.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20The cut is so disastrously deep that the only thing keeping
0:13:20 > 0:13:24the dangling hand from dropping off is that bandage.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The hand will need supporting cos it flops.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28All right... is it underneath or on top?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30On top.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Any viewers of a sensitive disposition should look away now.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- Can you feel that? Does that feel normal?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- How does that one feel? - Yeah, that's all right.
0:13:40 > 0:13:46A&E Consultant Dr Holloway checks that Martin still has sensation in his hand.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48- Feel that one?- The tip of my little finger?- Mmm.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Yeah, I can feel that.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Which indicates that the nerves aren't damaged beyond repair.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Probably the only good news poor Martin will get all day.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01What we're going to do is give that a really good wash out, OK?
0:14:01 > 0:14:05We're going to put some salt water in there.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09We all know that washing our hands is hygienic but in Martin's case it's vital...
0:14:09 > 0:14:13with a wide open wound like this there's a massive risk of infection
0:14:13 > 0:14:16which could lead to him losing his hand altogether.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Breathe on there. Breathe on your gas, breathe on your gas.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Breathe. Good man. Breathe.
0:14:22 > 0:14:29Doctors make cleaning out the area a top priority using a sterile solution of saltwater or saline.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Medics make sure the gaping gash gets a thorough rinsing.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36Talk about pouring salt in the wound.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39We're putting some pads on with like an iodine solution because of infection
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and we're just going to bandage it up, OK?
0:14:42 > 0:14:47With a bit of help from the gas pump our unbelievably brave chippy remains chipper.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50That's it. Keep using it.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It's free.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57The extent of Martin's injuries are plain to see
0:14:59 > 0:15:04but an X-ray is needed to find out just how much damage has been done.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09You can see the saw's gone all the way through the bones here
0:15:09 > 0:15:12and the whole hand has sort of compressed down
0:15:12 > 0:15:16and then all the skin on top of the bones has also been sawn through
0:15:16 > 0:15:19which is where all the tendons lie
0:15:19 > 0:15:23which is why he couldn't move his hand at all cos all the tendons had been disrupted.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27It might not seem it, but Martin's been incredibly lucky.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30If the saw had gone probably only a centimetre further,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32he'd have actually chopped off the whole of his hand.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34He needs his hand reconstructing.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38He's gone through the bones, gone through the tendons, gone through the skin.
0:15:38 > 0:15:43Martin is rushed to theatre where a team of surgeons is waiting.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45It's important that they get to work straightaway
0:15:45 > 0:15:49for there to be any chance of restoring function to the hand,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52something that's pretty important for a carpenter.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55The team will work into the night to give it their best shot.
0:15:55 > 0:16:01Join us later in the show when we'll find out if they can save Martin's hand and his livelihood.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Bizarre cases aren't confined to Britain
0:16:07 > 0:16:13and this series we've scoured the globe to bring you the world's most extraordinary emergencies.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Down under, doctors resorted to surreal skin peeling surgery
0:16:17 > 0:16:21when a Kiwi forest worker came to them with a skull so obliterated
0:16:21 > 0:16:25the lower half of his face shifted a centimetre to the right.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37For lovers of the outdoor life, working in the lush New Zealand countryside
0:16:37 > 0:16:39is like working in Paradise.
0:16:39 > 0:16:46But Paradise turned to Hell for Johnathan Tobeck when after an horrific accident
0:16:46 > 0:16:49doctors had to give him the ultimate face peel.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57the Hawkes Bay region produces delicious fruit and world class wine.
0:16:57 > 0:17:03It's also home to Johnathan who at the tender age of 22 had already achieved his dream job.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08I've been in the Forestry for eight years. I like it. It's awesome.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11It's my life. It's my work.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16Awesome feeling being out there and working in amongst all the trees.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21One day Johnathan was happily chopping down huge trees in a scenic New Zealand bush.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26These trees need to be pulled back through the forest to be hulled.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30There's a hauler a big machine, it's got wires coming off all over it.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35These wires stretch for miles along the forest, slowly dragging trees from where they fall.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36Sort of like a ski lift.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Holding the massive logs in place are these giant metal chokers.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46Thirsty from working in the harsh Kiwi sun, Johnathan sat down for a well-earned drink.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51I'd just put my bottle down and I was turning round to grab the lid
0:17:51 > 0:17:54and boom...bash...out... Lights gone.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58The choker caught on undergrowth...
0:17:58 > 0:18:04a huge wire stretching and building tension until it was launched into his face with a ferocious force.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11The next thing I remember was waking up and all my mates were all around me
0:18:11 > 0:18:16and I said to them "What's going on, let's get back to work."
0:18:16 > 0:18:21The nasty left hook hit with such power and intensity that it pushed most of his cheekbone,
0:18:21 > 0:18:27the top part of his jaw, and his nose bones a centimetre to the other side of his face.
0:18:27 > 0:18:33All the bones in my face were all shattered so... Yeah, it was quite nasty.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Paramedics were called to the rescue. But getting there wasn't going to be easy.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44It was up the side of a freshly filled hillside... climbing over broken trees.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46The helicopter is the only answer for people like that.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48'Even that has its difficulties.'
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Guide wires go into bits of machinery and things like that so we saw where the patient was,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56which was high up the side of a hill.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00The hill was too steep for the helicopter to land
0:19:00 > 0:19:04so Johnathan had to be winched to flat ground where he was stabilised.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06The skin of the scalp was split from ear to ear
0:19:06 > 0:19:11and he had a lot of deformity and swelling around his face.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15I grabbed my face to hold it and there was...
0:19:15 > 0:19:17it was like jelly.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24It was really incredible to think that he was still alive.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32All I could think about was my daughter and yeah I just wanted to see her again.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Didn't want my life to be over.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Johnathan was really lucky with his injury.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50It could have certainly been a lot worse. It could have killed him,
0:19:50 > 0:19:53he could have lost his sight in one or both of his eyes.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57If he didn't receive expert treatment quickly,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00he'd not only look horrific, he'd have to endure a lifetime
0:20:00 > 0:20:02of double vision, making most tasks,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06including his beloved woodland work, pretty much impossible.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Most of the facial bones had been shunted off to one side.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Not only was he in a great deal of pain,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15but he was quite clearly distressed.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Walked straight past the mirror I got a fright.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22I didn't realise I looked like that. It was quite scary.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26The hook had decimated Johnathan's skull.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28When we first saw Johnathan,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32the hook had hit him on this part of his face
0:20:32 > 0:20:37and the impact has managed to separate the whole of the cheekbone
0:20:37 > 0:20:41and this piece of bone on the CT scan is totally shattered.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Surgeons needed direct access into Johnathan's skull to move his bones
0:20:46 > 0:20:51back into place and had to resort to drastic and surreal surgery.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56The doctor came in and told me what he had to do and I freaked out.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58I was like "What?! I don't think so."
0:20:58 > 0:21:03Squeamish viewers be warned - there are some gruesome images ahead.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05To get at these broken pieces of bone,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09we need to peel his face forward and up.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Like something from a horror movie, surgeons pulled back the skin
0:21:13 > 0:21:16to reveal Johnathan's badly damaged skull.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Doctors screwed a series of plates into place,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26painstakingly rebuilding his skull structure.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32This is Johnathan's operation here.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35These are some of the plates and screws.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39These are little clips that we put on the scalp's skin.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Not only does it help stop it bleeding, but it treats
0:21:42 > 0:21:46the hair follicles well so that they don't die
0:21:46 > 0:21:49and these patients don't end up with bald patches.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52With the plates locked into place, doctors folded his face back
0:21:52 > 0:21:55using 42 staples to hold it in place.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02They gave me a mirror and everything looked heaps better.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03Now the injury just had to heal,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06though there were some teething troubles along the way.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11They had wired all my jaw up and I couldn't eat anything but milkshakes.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18I'm not a fan of milkshakes any more.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21# My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
0:22:21 > 0:22:23# And they're like, "It's better than yours".. #
0:22:23 > 0:22:24I hate milkshakes!
0:22:33 > 0:22:37'Every morning I wake up now and I take a big breath
0:22:37 > 0:22:40'and feel amazed that I am still able to breathe...
0:22:41 > 0:22:43'..and enjoy life as it goes.'
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Time now to enter the Bizarre ER confessional.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07We've invited medics from across the land to share
0:23:07 > 0:23:11the funniest and freakiest things they've seen in A&E.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15These stories might sound far fetched, but they're all 100% true.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Sometimes patients don't tell you very much.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33This 32-year-old lad in a suit came in and said
0:23:33 > 0:23:35he thought he had something up his bottom.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Wouldn't tell us any more. He let us examine him.
0:23:38 > 0:23:44His tummy was soft. But when we put a finger up his bum, we could feel something and we X-rayed him.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49That's the X-Ray. That's his tailbone and THAT is stuck in his rectum!
0:23:49 > 0:23:52We looked at that and we didn't know what the hell it was.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Was it some giant industrial syringe or is it a screwdriver?
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Anyway, we took it out - it was a vibrator.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03We washed it, we gave it to him. He said nothing. We asked nothing.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Nothing needed to be said.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14We had a young girl in.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18She got a shock from her Xmas tree lights that were flashing too fast.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Because she was bending down with her arm outstretched, it travelled
0:24:21 > 0:24:25from one arm to the other and blew the top of her finger off.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27Her family were horrified and screamed.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Unfortunately the little bit of finger that had blown off
0:24:30 > 0:24:34went straight down the throat of her sister who was screaming the loudest.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38We had two patients in - the girl with the top of her finger missing
0:24:38 > 0:24:42and her sister with a foreign body, the top of the finger, in her throat.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44But it was a happy Xmas story.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47We were able to retrieve the finger and sew it back on to the sister.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Earlier in the show we met Martin...
0:24:56 > 0:24:59..a carpenter who'd had an unfortunate slip with his chop saw
0:24:59 > 0:25:05- and very nearly severed his entire hand.- He's gone through the bones, the tendons and the skin.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10After some painful pre-op procedures Martin was sent straight to theatre
0:25:10 > 0:25:15where surgeons worked for five hours to repair the grim gaping wound across the back of his hand.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21It's just 48 hours later, but incredibly Martin's up and about
0:25:21 > 0:25:25and preparing to go home, although his cast is taking a bit of getting used to.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29There's a solid cast... Ow.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31There's a solid cast all the way underneath
0:25:31 > 0:25:35that goes all the way round basically holding the hand up.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Brave Martin and the staff are happy with their handiwork.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42They put in three wires which have realigned the bones back into
0:25:42 > 0:25:45position that they should be in then they've reconstructed the tendons
0:25:45 > 0:25:49on the back of the hand, any nerves or vessels that were damaged,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52and also sewed the skin back up together.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57The surgery went well so just keep my fingers crossed, really.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Not that I can!
0:25:59 > 0:26:04But as he heads home to recuperate, the question is will his hand return to full health?
0:26:10 > 0:26:16It's a month later and Martin's back hoping to see a wholesome hand where once there was a gruesome gash.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19I can move my fingers, it could be a lot worse
0:26:20 > 0:26:23But that's about all I can do.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25I did think about going into puppetry.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29"Hello, how are you today?"
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Before he heads to his audition for Avenue Q, Martin pops in to
0:26:33 > 0:26:37have his bandage changed and the first look at the healing hand.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Let's remove all this and then we can have a look and see what we're up to.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46HE GASPS All right?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- You didn't like that. - No. That hurt, that did.- Sorry.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51It's looking a lot better than it was.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Most of it... A lot of it has healed now.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00It's definitely improved a lot. I mean, it was...
0:27:00 > 0:27:05It was quite horrific to start with. Now it just looks a bit unpleasant.
0:27:07 > 0:27:08Long, long process.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Time. Time's a great healer they say.
0:27:12 > 0:27:18Martin heads off knowing that the road to recovery will be a long one,
0:27:18 > 0:27:22but thanks to the efforts of the Northampton General staff doctors are hopeful that
0:27:22 > 0:27:26in a year or so, he'll have almost all the function back in his hand.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Next time on Bizarre ER,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35a biking blunder causes one man's metalwork to make a break for it.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38It's punctured through the end. It's not great.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42A young thrillseeker ends up battered after taking a bizarre joy ride.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Not knowing you can fall off an old granny trolley.
0:27:47 > 0:27:53And the story of how two Norwegian adventurers' Arctic expedition turned to terror when they were
0:27:53 > 0:27:57attacked in their sleep by a deadly polar bear.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Polar bears are strong animals. It can take seconds to kill a person.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:24 > 0:28:27E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk