A MAN who  lost part of his arm after a freak accident in west Dorset is expected home this weekend or early next week.

Rob Holt from Mapperton was working in woods when a tree fell on him.

Friend Garry Arnold said he was lucky a tree didn't 'take his head off' when it fell on him in woods near Mapperton.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly before 2.20pm on Thursday after a man working in woodland sustained a 'severe injury' after a tree fell on top of him.

Mr Holt, who run's Rob's Logs in Mapperton was flown to Southmead Hospital in Bristol after part of his arm was amputated.

He was scheduled to have a skin graft on Wednesday and be home soon, said partner Lorraine Parry.

Mr Arnold was working at a farm nearby when he saw emergency services flocking to the scene.

"He was cutting a tree when it split right down the middle and pinned him to the ground" Garry said.

"As he went to run from it, it swiped down his face. If he hadn't moved, it probably would have taken his head off.

"He was working on a steep slope at the time, which is why the helicopter circled for a while before it could land.

"Rob is doing as best as could be expected, given the circumstances - but he has lost part of his arm below the elbow."

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We got the call at 2.17pm to an incident at Mapperton where a tree had fallen on a man in his 40s.

“Paramedics in a fast car and the air ambulance attended to the patient, where the tree had amputated part of his forearm.

“Because of the remote location in some woods, the Coastguard helicopter helped to winch him to safety and he was flown to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for treatment.”

Matt Gillam was with Garry when emergency services were called.

"I was working on the farm opposite and heard the sirens" he said. "I went over with Garry and found out it was one of his friends.

"There wasn't much we could do apart from wait for the Coastguard and they had winching equipment to airlift Rob to Bristol."

Two fire crews from Beaminster and Bridport attended the incident, along with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the Coastguard rescue helicopter.

A road block was put in place by police while they dealt with the incident.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: "It is believed the man was working in woodland and the tree has fallen on him, severely injuring his arm.

"Because of the location, the coastguard helicopter was called to the scene to help assist the air ambulance.”