[Rexaviennatutr]

The Star/Asia News Network
Friday, Apr 13, 2012

KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia - A trader's right hand was almost severed when it was caught inside a sugar cane grinder in a freak accident at Taman Semarak.

In the 11.30am incident yesterday, Wan Hamzah Wan Ismail, 58, was routinely putting sugar cane into the grinder when his hand got caught inside it.

The victim's son Wan Nor Hazha, 35, said he was cleaning sugar cane stalks when he heard his father's screams.

"I saw that his right hand was caught inside the machine and I quickly ran over and switched the machine off.

"I had a difficult time trying to release his hand.

"I finally managed to do it after an hour but his right hand was already bloody and almost severed," he said.

He said he and his other siblings quickly rushed his father to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.

"Doctors told us his hand could not be saved and had to be amputated.

"He has been selling sugar cane drinks for seven years and he'll be heartbroken as he cannot do it anymore," he said.

He added that he was even more worried about his father as he had a heart condition.

Wan Hamzah was warded at the hospital for follow-up treatment and has been given aid by the state Welfare Department.