A retired Australian man survived a rare and often fatal injury known as internal decapitation after his loyal dog alerted his partner to the emergency. Stephen Bowskill, 64, was clearing a lightning-struck tree on his property in Cessnock, New South Wales, on Easter Sunday last year when a branch struck him, shattering his neck and causing two brain bleeds.
Bowskill lay alone, unable to move or call for help, and began to prepare for death. His dog, Callie, stayed by his side and began moaning and whimpering, which alerted his partner, Noelene Whilesmith. She ran 80 metres down the driveway to find Bowskill motionless with Callie lying on top of him.
Whilesmith called triple zero, and paramedics Gabriel Hubbard and Aaron Thompson arrived within minutes. The scene was a radio black-spot, but Thompson managed to call for assistance, including a rescue helicopter. Hubbard noted that Bowskill's neck had sunken into his chest cavity, and he told paramedics he thought he was about to die.
Bowskill was flown to John Hunter Hospital, where specialist spinal surgeon Dr Patrick Lim diagnosed him with cranio-cervical dissociation, or internal decapitation. Lim performed a five-hour emergency surgery to reattach Bowskill's skull to his spine using a rod and screws. He credited the timely response and the teamwork of all involved for Bowskill's survival.
Remarkably, Bowskill suffered no permanent or severe disabilities and returned to his farm 18 months later, operating heavy machinery. He credits Callie with saving his life, saying, 'Had it not been for her I would have been finished.' Whilesmith expressed her relief, noting that her greatest fear was losing him in such a sudden way.
