The family of a young man who lost his arm in a horror workplace incident have revealed how a standard Monday in the workshop turned into a “unimaginable, traumatic” nightmare for the 18-year-old.

Chaz Gordon had been working as a fitter and machinist at Ardello Engineering in Welshpool for three years and had just finished his apprenticeship in December.

He was due to receive his certification sign-off in the early weeks of 2026 but on January 12 his life was turned upside down.

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Mr Gordon was operating a machine he uses “every day” when his dominant right arm got caught in the piece of equipment and was severed above the elbow.

He was raced to Royal Perth Hospital in critical condition, where medical staff attempted reconstructive surgery on the limb, but sadly, his arm could not be saved.

The 18-year-old Credit: Sarah Lynch & Sherece Johnson/GoFundMe

A GoFundMe has since been created in hopes of raising enough funds to cover the costs of a robotic arm for Mr Gordon, who has been described as a “hands-on creator”.

A statement posted on the GoFundMe — which has raised $30,000 of the $35,000 target — credited Mr Gordon’s Ardello Engineering colleagues who were on scene that day and medical staff at Royal Perth Hospital for saving his life.

“The team at RPH fought tirelessly to save his arm, but it could not be,” the statement said.

Two weeks after the horrible incident, loved ones of Mr Gordon revealed he faces a “life-changing journey ahead”.

“While he will receive support, it does not cover the equipment he truly needs to regain his independence and return to the hands-on life he loves,” they said.

Chaz’s family said he has always enjoyed the outdoors and has been a hands-on creator since he was young. Credit: GoFundMe

“A new arm will allow Chaz to return to his passions of creating, building, working, and reclaiming parts of his life that bring him joy and identity.”

In a social media post sharing the fundraiser, Mr Gordon’s father revealed the family’s goal for the teen is a trans-humeral robotic arm.

“This will enable him to continue doing what he loves, but also in his field of passion,” he wrote on Sunday night.

In the days after the incident, WorkSafe WA confirmed an investigation had been launched into what happened.

The 18-year-old Credit: GoFundMe

“WorkSafe confirm a serious incident occurred at Ardello Engineering in Welshpool in which an apprentice suffered a traumatic arm injury,” the governing body said.

There has been no updates on the findings of the body’s investigation as of yet.

PerthNow has reached out to both Chaz and his family for comment.