Metalworker’s Arm Severed Below Elbow

A 40-year-old man working a die press at an aircraft company was in critical condition Thursday night after losing half his right arm when a piece of metal shot from the machine and severed the limb, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. at Advanced Metal Products at 830 Tourmaline Drive, said Ventura County Fire spokeswoman Sandi Wells.

Ramon Perez was taken by ambulance to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks and then airlifted Thursday night to UCLA Medical Center in Westwood.

Doctors at UCLA late Thursday attempted to reattach Perez’s arm, which was severed just below the elbow, fire officials said.

Perez was also being treated for internal injuries he suffered when the piece of metal struck and cut open his abdomen, fire officials said.

He was in critical condition Thursday night, according to hospital officials.

The machine Perez was working on is used to make and shape metal. The piece of metal that injured him measured 2 feet by 6 inches by a half-inch, fire officials said.

Perez, a Los Angeles resident, had been operating the machine at the company for more than 20 years, fire officials said.

Advanced Metal Products manufactures aircraft components and accessories.

Cal-OSHA was investigating the incident.