Wick musician almost loses arm in industrial accident near Dundee
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A CAITHNESS musician almost lost his left arm in a horrific industrial accident. Keith Matheson, who was born and grew up in Wick, was working as a contractor at a primary school in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, when the incident happened.
His fleece got caught in the blade of a circular saw and his left arm was pulled into the power tool. Two members of staff rushed to his aid, stemmed the flow of blood and called an ambulance as he lay on the ground.
Keith, a singer and guitarist who moved south in his 20s, said their quick thinking helped save his life. He was rushed to Ninewells hospital in Dundee where surgeons re-attached the arm in a long and complex operation.
Keith, who is 58 and has played with musicians from bands such as Deacon Blue and Simple Minds and released a solo album two years ago, faces a long recuperation period. He can move the tips of his fingers on his left hand but will not be able to play right-handed guitar again although he is determined to learn to play left-handed as music is so important to him.
The accident, which happened on Monday, April 4, is being investigated by Dundee City Council.
Keith played with bands in Wick and Thurso in the 1970s and early ’80s and was a member of Helter Skelter, Ministry of Dance, Sirens, Rocking Princes and even a punk band when he filled in for an absent member for a Thurso gig. Despite leaving Wick years ago his fondness for the town has never left him.
He moved to Dundee when he was 21 and formed Big Blue 72 and started to find his feet as a songwriter and performer.
He then teamed up with Kit Clark who had left Danny Wilson to form Swiss Family Orbison, who were championed by John Peel and toured extensively as headline and as support to Teenage Fanclub and The Saw Doctors.
When they disbanded his next move was to join Davie Scott as guitarist with The Pearlfishers.
Keith's first solo album was called Kekker and featured former Swiss bandmates, Gregor Philp and Dougie Vipond (both of Deacon Blue), Ged Grimes (ex-Danny Wilson and now Simple Minds) and Andrew Mitchell of The Hazey Janes and Idlewild.
Keith, who has two daughters, Seonaid and Georgie, described the album as "a highly personal collection of songs that illustrate the power of reflection".
