KOTA KINABALU: A plantation worker was rushed to hospital after getting impaled on an oil palm loading spike at an estate in Sabah’s east coast Sandakan district.
It is believed the 21-year-old victim was collecting oil palm fruit bunches at about 10am on Wednesday (Feb 21) when the accident occurred.
He was then rushed to the Duchess of Kent Hospital.
Sandakan Fire and Rescue Department chief Severinus Nidzam Sainkui said they were informed of the man’s condition at 10.35am.
A team was assigned to help cut away most of the spike so that hospital staff could remove it and treat the victim.
“We sawed through the spike with a grinder before medical staff took over to treat him," Severinus said when contacted.
He added that the operation ended at 11.07am.
Loading spikes, typically made of steel and measuring about 1m, are used to skewer and lift bunches of fresh oil palm fruit for loading onto transports.