A Nantwich college specialising in outdoor-based careers has been fined £40,000, after a student's fingers were severed when his hand came into contact with a mitre saw.

Aaron Maguire, from Crewe, was a second year Horticulture student at Reaseheath College when his hand came into contact with the blade of the saw on 20 September 2023.

He had been using the saw to cut a piece of wood along its length when the wood twisted and pulled his hand into the cutting disc of the saw.

This resulted in the then 17-year old cutting through several fingers and the thumb on his left hand.

Aaron Maguire, from Crewe, was a second year Horticulture student at Reaseheath College when his hand came into contact with the blade of the saw on 20 September 2023 (HSE).

Following an eight hour operation, surgeons managed to successfully re-attach Aaron's thumb and index finger, but the middle finger could not be saved.

Keen hockey player Aaron, now 19, said everyday tasks were now more difficult.

He said: "Although my left hand is not my dominant hand, I have had to adjust to doing things that I would normally do with my left hand, such as cutting food and picking up everyday objects like glasses and cups.

"I cannot grip things properly and it makes it difficult to do the hobbies I did.

"Prior to the incident, I was a keen hockey player. I still try to play hockey now, but it is nowhere near the level I was playing at before I had my injury."

More than 18 months on, Aaron has been told he requires further surgery to his middle finger, which he hopes won't affect his plans to go to university in September.

"There are a number of reasons why an operation needs to take place.

"One of them is because the bone in my index finger is gradually sliding down and pushing into the skin on my hand.

"The operation is due to take place later this year. If the timing of the operation occurs around September when I am due to start my university course, this will have a significant impact on my studies."

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the college failed to adequately risk assess or produce a written safe system of work for using the mitre saw. The college did not record what training and instruction was given to students on the use of the saw.

There was no process to determine whether supervision was needed, nor was there any refresher training for using the saw following the students' return from their summer break.

On the day of the incident, Aaron had been seen by the tutor earlier that morning using the saw improperly. Despite this, he was allowed to use the saw again later that day without supervision.

HSE guidance states a suitable and sufficient risk assessment should be carried out to identify measures that can be taken to overcome the risks that the hazard presents.

It also says young people warrant special consideration due to their judgement and lack of experience.

Reaseheath College pleaded guilty to Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The college was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £6,106 in costs at Chester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 4 June 2025.

HSE inspector Summer Foster said: "Places of education and workplaces must ensure that they have properly assessed the risks where young people are using dangerous machinery.

"If suitable training, an assessment of competence and appropriate supervision had been carried out then this accident would not have been able to happen.

"A young man has been left with life-changing injuries as a result."