A GAMEKEEPER who narrowly avoided death when a tree fell on his legs has described the accident as a 'wake-up call'.

Keiron Robbins is calling for other rural workers to take precautions after his 'freak accident' in Catchems End woodland, Abberley, near Worcester.

The 34-year-old managed to use his chainsaw to cut a chunk of the 90ft tree off his legs and then phoned for help.

Mr Robbins, of Stud Lane, Abberley, suffered a broken ankle and was airlifted to hospital on Tuesday, August 8.

The self-employed gamekeeper wants other lone workers to learn from his accident and take steps to protect themselves.

He said: "I never thought about it before. It's been a wake-up call.

"There's a lot of self-employed people working by themselves.

"It's alright in towns as there's lots of people around but when on farms it's a different kettle of fish.

"The main thing is to let people know where you are, what you are doing and what time you will be back.

"If I didn't have my mobile phone I would have been there all day - make sure you have a mobile phone that's charged.

"If you are doing something dangerous make sure there are two of you."

He said a friend told him he never thought about the dangers of working alone before his accident.

But now the friend asks his mum to ring him if he is not back before a certain time.

Mr Robbins' accident happened while he was doing his routine checks on pheasant pens in the wood.

"I had 15 minutes before I had to check the other pen," he said.

"I had a look at the tree and thought I'll do this then check the next lot of pheasants.

"The tree had fallen across the path. I had my chainsaw with me... as I had it I thought I'd do it."

Mr Robbins said that as he was cutting the tree it snapped back and hit him in his chest - due to the tension.

"It was a freak accident," he added.

The tree landed on his legs but he managed to chop a chunk of the wood off his limbs and phone for help.

Dickie Jeavons-Fellows, the landowner, said he was lucky to survive but unlucky that the accident happened in the first place.

The 46-year-old added that Mr Robbins is experienced with a chainsaw and that the incident highlighted the perils of working in the countryside.

Mr Robbins thanked the emergency services for their help and also praised Mr Jeavons-Fellows' wife, Sally, who rushed to the scene and took his vitals before the paramedics arrived.