Volunteer firefighters Wednesday had to rescue a man who got his hand caught in a forklift in Venango Township.

Daryl Brown was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital following the accident about noon at his home on Route 308 in Venango Township, where he also operates a small construction business, authorities said.

“The forklift was in the air and (Brown) was doing work on it,” said Barry Louise, assistant chief of the Emlenton Volunteer Fire Department, “when it came down and pinched his hand between two sections on the hydraulic lift.”

Several people, apparently neighbors, were trying to help Brown, believed to be in his 60s, when a fire crew arrived. Firefighters used “jaws of life” equipment to rescue the man.

Brown’s hand was “smashed and bleeding,” according to rescuers. He also appeared in shock.

Emlenton Ambulance medics tended to the victim before he was taken to the hospital. Louise described the injuries as “moderate.” A condition report was not immediately available.