APOLLO BEACH - A 34-year-old New Port Richey man had a close call Friday afternoon when his arm was trapped in the machinery of a cement-mixing truck.
Witnesses and Hillsborough Fire Rescue said Nelson Gomez was working on a swimming pool at 457 Flamingo Drive when he dropped his hammer in the truck's hopper, where dry cement is poured to be mixed with water to make gunite, a sprayable cement used for swimming pools.
He reached in to pull out the hammer while the truck's cement mixer was still revolving and his arm was trapped.
Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said the machine could have mangled Gomez's arm, but the screw in the hopper stopped turning.
A surgeon was asked to stand by in case Gomez's arm had to be amputated.
Workers cut away a bar on the truck, freeing the arm, Yeakley said. Gomez was treated for minor injuries at Tampa General Hospital.
