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Musician's Own Song Soothes Him During Life-Saving Surgery
20 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A 79-year-old guitarist had his original Christmas song played during emergency surgery.
- He injured his fingers in an accident involving an angle grinder.
- The operation to save his hand was successful, allowing him to play guitar again.
An unusual request during emergency surgery brought comfort to a 79-year-old musician, John Dawson. While undergoing a critical operation to save his hand, which was severely injured in an angle grinder accident, his original Christmas song was played. The song, titled 'Santa's Still in Lockdown,' was written by Mr. Dawson during the pandemic.
Mr. Dawson, a guitarist and singer with the band Chapter Four for six decades, was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary after the accident. The surgical team, recognizing his nerves, offered to play music. He requested his own composition, surprising the staff when they realized he was the songwriter. This personal touch helped calm him during the procedure.
The surgery, led by surgeon Majid Al-Khalil, was successful, with doctors confident Mr. Dawson will be able to play the guitar again. The hospital trust noted the rarity of playing a patient's own written song during an operation, highlighting the positive impact of music on patient care. Mr. Dawson expressed immense gratitude for the paramedics and the surgical team.
