CT Man Nearly Cuts Off Arm To Free Himself From Furnace

A 31-year-old man was trapped in his Hartford, Connecticut basement for days when his arm became trapped in a furnace. Jonathan Metz was trying to fix the furnace on Sunday when he got stuck. His calls for help were unanswered and two days later, the Hartford Courant reports, "He was in and out of consciousness, but Metz, 31, knew what he had to do. He had to cut his arm off."

A trauma doctor, Dr. Scott Ellner at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, said, "His arm was [decaying] and once that happens you release toxins. He did mention about the smell and he knew something wasn't right and that in order to save himself this was going to be the only option. I don't think he knew exactly why he had to do this other than just to free himself but it was right thing to do." Ellner explained, "With tools he had within reach he attempted to amputate his own arm [below the left shoulder]. He nearly did it but not completely." The Courant says, "His rescuers had to complete the amputation. Doctors were not able to reattach the limb. They hope he can be fitted with a prosthetic arm."

Metz was found when a friend, who was worried that Metz hadn't shown up to a softball game and never showed up for work, stopped by his house on Wednesday. Metz also survived by drinking water that leaked from the furnace. Another doctor said, "It's inspiring to see someone take their life into their own hands, quite literally."

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By Jen Chung in News on June 10, 2010 6:32 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

The furnace must not be that expensive since it only cost him an arm.

Potty Boy

+1

hashedz

+1

Mookie Wilson

So wait, he's trapped for two days and decides the only way to escape with his life is to cut off his own arm. Then just as he's almost finished cutting it off, his buddy drops by to pick him up for their softball game? Damn.

akuryo

Isn't that just the way....

AYCE

Jigsaw would be proud

r1b2

We can rebuild him make him better. Better? Faster, stronger.

zincink

note to self - always carry cell phone in pocket

Stevennnn

What was wrong with the furnace in June?

jpeditor

They are easier to work on when they are off.

tsimahtog

Rescue Worker: Homer, there's no easy way to put this, but we're going to have to saw your arms off.

Homer: They'll grow back, right?

Rescue Worker: Oh... yeah.

Homer: Whew.

Rescue Worker: Wait a sec, Homer are you just holding on to a can?

Homer: You're point being?

YELLOWFOOT

if he had the tools to cut off his arm why didn't he just cut the furnace to free his arm?

ozik

Are you saying his arm is made of metal or that his furnace is made of flesh?

FDTW

Somebody get this man a cart to help haul around his enormous balls.

m015094

And a magnifying lens to look at his tiny brain for getting his arm stuck in a furnace.

jpeditor

Thanks for your service, but that was not a through-through comment.

You don't know whether he reached where he shouldn't have, or whether a a piece of the furnace came off accidentally and jammed in his arm. The FD at the link says it took 25 minutes and power tools to get him out. Less than likely that he was simply "stuck".

Ethan

In October 1993, Colorado fisherman Bill Jeracki cut off his leg at the knee when two boulders fell on his leg while angling alone in a remote canyon stream. Trapped and yelling for hours, Jeracki made the decision to sever the limb after the weather took a turn for the worse and he became concerned for his survival.

John L

Wow!

Clarice City

Bad ass! That deserves a robo arm. Also, can his ability to pick up women with that story get any better?

"You know...I cut off my own arm once..."