Handy Man's Power Drill Saves 12 Year Olds Life

AUSTRALIA - A doctor had to use an electric drill to perform brain surgery on a 12 year-old boy. It saved the child's life.

Nicholas Rossi fell off his bike and hit his head. He was in and out of consciousness as his parents raced him to a tiny local hospital. The doctor said the boy was going to die. Rossi's brain was bleeding. Dr. Rob Carson knew he only had a few minutes to save the boy's life by relieving the pressure on the brain. The blood would've continued to accumulate, push on the brain and result in death.

The small, rural hospital didn't have the proper tools for brain surgery, so the doctor got a power drill from the maintenance department. Carson spoke with a top nuero-surgeon from Melbourne over the phone who instructed him on what to do.

"The procedure didn't bother me," said Carson, "what worried me was all the time during this, was this little 12 year-old was going to die." The doctor used the drill to let the blood clot out.

Rossi's parents never questioned the doctor's decision. His mom said she knew that it was necessary.

Rossi is expected to make a full recovery, and he could even be riding his bike again in 8 weeks.

A similar injury took the life of actress Natasha Richardson. Doctors in Australia reminded everyone that if a loss of consciousness or lethargy is ever experience with a head injury to seek medical treatment immediately.