Stories of Survival: 66 year old amputates his own leg with pocket knife.
This is an amazing story, though I must say I might have been compelled to cut the tree instead of my leg.
IOWA HILL, Calif. (AP) — Alone in the woods with his left leg pinned beneath a fallen tree for 11 hours, a 66-year-old man used pocket knives to cut off his limb below the knee to free himself, a neighbor and authorities said.
It’s important for us all to remember that when it comes to survival, sometimes it’s better to live without a part of your body than to not live at all. I have updated the “survival tips…” list to include some tips on using your own body as a survival resource.
Kiquer wrote:
Everyone thinks Aron Ralston is a hero for cutting off his own arm. But seriously, after being trapped in a remote canyon for 5 days, it was the arm or his life. How brave is that really?
This guy cut off HIS LEG,(a considerably more difficult self-surgery) only 11 hours after losing his freedom. He probably wasn’t even getting hungry yet. Something that’s not pointed out is how stoic this guy must have been during the amputation.
“After freeing himself, he cried out for help, and a neighbor passing through this sparsely populated area heard him.”
If he hadn’t sucked it up, the neighors would have heard his crys and prevented this courageous deed.
Posted on 07-Jun-07 at 9:52 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
I think it’s important we refrain from referring to these people who self-amputate as “heroes”…the last thing we need is small children cutting off their limbs.
Posted on 07-Jun-07 at 11:38 pm | Permalink
Kiquer wrote:
While I agree in theory that children should not perform any unsupervised body modifications, developing the self discipline to do so is paramount.
I’m sure you’d agree that G. Gordon Libby set an excellent example for American children. And while holding one’s hand over a flame until the flesh burns is not as difficult as self amputation, it does have the benefit of being repeatable.
Posted on 09-Jun-07 at 4:30 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
I agree fully that while we shouldn’t put up self-amputate role models for children…neither should we discipline those who partake in such activities…for they are our future leaders.
I’m glad you brought up American Hero G. Gordon Liddy. I wasn’t aware he was able to endure such torture. When I was a boy we would play a game called “Snake meets Fire” it was basically a first-man-out-loses game that involved the male genitals and either a candle, or a campfire. I never lost. Well, I never lost the game, I actually lost quite a bit of feeling in my sword.
Regardless, I’ve long felt that ability to endure burn pain was a good sign of a man’s character. Exception would be those who are in Hell.
Posted on 09-Jun-07 at 5:03 pm | Permalink