Man mulched by tree shredder happy to be alive

"It's great to be alive."

Chris Fromont lies in intensive care in New Plymouth Hospital without three of his limbs - he lost his legs and left arm when he became trapped in a tree shredder last week.

Despite his horrific ordeal - and questions over the mechanical state of the shredder - Mr Fromont, 48, has been joking with his family, and counting his blessings.

Chris' brother, Stephen Fromont, said last night: "My brother has been mulched."

He said Chris had been showing amazing resilience in hospital.

"We were just joking about our time as kids and what we used to do. He said things like 'it's great to be alive' or 'at least I'm not at my own funeral'."
Chris is also concerned for his workmates who might have to use the shredder.

Another of Chris' brothers, Kevin, said: "He told me, 'they've got to get that thing fixed before someone gets hurt'. I looked at him without three limbs and thought, 'you're more worried about others getting hurt'. It's amazing."

Mr Fromont was caught in the industrial shredding machine at New Plymouth's refuse transfer station, operated by Manawatu Waste, last Wednesday.

During his ordeal, a doctor amputated Mr Fromont's legs just above the knees, and an arm, while he was conscious. He was talking and joking throughout the procedure.

Health and Safety Taranaki is investigating the accident.

Mr Fromont told his family from the hospital bed that it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt in the shredding machine. He said there had been continued problems at the plant.

Kevin said: "He said to me the machine had not been performing - it was broken down for some months. It was quite dangerous to move all the stuff in the machine."

Stephen said: "His last comment to me was, 'now they might fix the machine'. All the staff knew [the machine was broken].

The comments have been backed up by former employees of Manawatu Waste, spoken to by the Herald on Sunday.

Ray Lambert, general manager of Manawatu Waste, said speculation did not help the investigation.

"We accept that blame is part of the grieving process. We don't want to debate the issue publicly so we don't cause more grief to the family."

Kevin said the family was angry and demanding answers.

"We're emotional, but at the same time we're logical - it just doesn't make any logical sense," Kevin said.

"Well, no one jumps in a mulcher to go for a swim, do they?" said Stephen. "[Chris] loved [his job] so much - he just loved having a job. He was just happy, happy, happy. We knew there was stuff going down but we thought it was just like any workplace."

Despite the family's anger about the accident, they are focused on helping Chris. Stephen said his brother was a very humble man who would fight through quietly.

"He used to work at the Power Board so we called him Killer, as in kilowatt. That's the most inapt name for him - he's the opposite of killer.

"If there's anyone I know who would pull through this, it's him. Because he doesn't have an ego - he's just a humble man who would do it without pain."

Stephen said the family had planned to look in the machine for Chris' wedding ring but they realised he had taken it off before going, so it wouldn't get stuck.

Kevin said his brother was very safety conscious.

Chris and his wife Anne had planned to go on a holiday in August in Tahiti.

They were going to attend his mother Jean's 80th birthday in two weeks. Now, the family just has to focus on ensuring Chris survives.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY