“Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro is recuperating following a grisly accident in his home bowling alley.
Valastro, 43, was spending “quality time” with his family at his New Jersey abode, his rep told People, when the alley’s pinsetter equipment malfunctioned — “a common fix in the past,” the rep noted — and Valastro attempted to fix it.
“After trying to release the bowling pin from the cage mechanism, his right hand became lodged and compressed inside the unit,” the rep relayed. “Unable to remove his hand, he can see a 1-1/2″ metal rod slowly and repeatedly impale his hand three times between his ring finger and middle finger.”
Valastro’s sons, Buddy Jr., 16, and Marco, 13, were able, after five minutes, to free their father by cutting through the rod with a reciprocating saw.
The television star subsequently underwent two surgeries: one in New Jersey, and another by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michelle Carlson in Manhattan. Released Wednesday, he is currently convalescing at home.
Valastro’s rep adds that he’s facing “an uphill battle,” given that the chef’s dominant hand was the one affected. “He will need prolonged recovery and therapy,” they added, perhaps unnecessarily.
Still, the New Jersey native and Carlo’s Bakery head seems upbeat, at least on social media.
“What do you think of my new accessory?” he captioned a photo of him in his hospital bed with his injured, bandaged hand elevated and an IV inserted in his other hand.
Peers like Emeril Lagasse, “Top Chef” winner Brooke Williamson and Duff Goldman — Valastro’s rival on the pair’s competition show “Buddy vs. Duff” — left comments of support on the post.