NEW KNOXVILLE — A retired Wapakoneta City firefighter was injured Saturday when a tree fell on him.
Alan J. McClintock, 49, of Wapakoneta, was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, following the accident, which happened at 12:49 p.m. Saturday in the 11000 block of Knierim Road in rural New Knoxville.
According to the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, the office received a 911 call from McClintock’s wife, Stacie, that her husband was trapped under a tree. She said he was cutting a tree and the tree fell on him.
Deputies met Mrs. McClintock at Knierim Road and followed her down a long trail next to a creek. After traveling down the trail, the deputies exited their vehicles and followed Mrs. McClintock to a tree line following the creek. The deputies observed McClintock trapped under a very large tree.
McClintock told deputies he was cutting the tree, which fell at a bad angle causing it to smash him against another tree. The falling tree came to rest on both his legs.
St. Marys EMS and New Knoxville first responders arrived on the scene. Medical air transport was also contracted and arrived on the scene. With the assistance of all departments and resources, the tree was lifted off McClintock’s legs.
McClintock is in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital.
He is the son of Steve and Chris McClintock, of Wapakoneta. His dad is a retired fire chief for the Wapakoneta Fire Department.
An account has been set up on You Caring Compassionate Crowdfunding to help with medical expenses incurred by McClintock. The account was set up by his brother, Sean McClintock.
In the account, Sean McClintock writes, “Alan is many things – a father, a grandfather, a son, a brother, a friend, a public servant, a serious person, a goofy person, and of course a hard worker. Alan served his community as a firefighter and advanced EMT for 25 years. And as most people know, he is someone who has faced many challenges and who has always persevered and faced those challenges with strength and determination. Alan recently retired from the fire service, which was an earlier retirement than expected and was due to complications from injuries he received seventeen years ago while fighting a fire. That injury caused severe head trauma and it took Alan over a year of therapy before he could return to duty. Then around five years ago, Alan nearly lost use of his right arm due to an injury sustained while transporting a patient to the squad. With each of those injuries, Alan exhibited great determination and stamina and beat the odds to recover more fully than expected.
“On Saturday, October 10th, in a freak accident, Alan was injured when he was struck by and pinned under a tree he was cutting. The tree broke his right arm, his clavicle, 10 ribs, and then crushed both legs just under his knees. Alan was pinned for over an hour as emergency crews brought in heavy equipment to lift the tree. He was finally freed and then life flighted to Miami Valley hospital in Dayton.
“Alan spent nearly 9 hours in surgery on Saturday with the doctors working diligently to repair his legs. At this point it is going to be day by day to see how his legs heal. We will use this site as a way to keep everyone informed of his progress.”
The website to donate is, https://www.youcaring.com/alan-mcclintock-449050#.Vh1d-m0FJkQ.facebook. Donations can also be sent to McClintock’s parents, Steve or Chris McClintock, 402 W. Pearl St., Wapakoneta, OH 45895.
