Doctors Can't Reattach Arm Blown Off In Fireworks Mishap

The family of the man whose left arm was blown off when lighting illegal fireworks in front of his Islip Terrace home say that doctors cannot reattach the limb. Eric Smith's grandfather told the Daily News, "His arm is gone. It's not going to be attached." His uncle revealed to the Post that Smith asked about the extend of the damage, "He didn't realize how far it [the limb] was gone... He's going to have a rough road... a couple of tough weeks ahead of him. They could not attach the arm. It's severed from the shoulder down."

Smith, 36, was holding a July 4th party on Saturday when the incident occurred. Suffolk County police say he was using a three-foot launcher tube to light a rocket, but he didn't move away from it quickly enough. Friends had packed the arm on ice in hopes that doctors would be able to reattach it, but the injury was too great. Friend Simon Hick said, "He lit the fuse, and it was 'Boom! Boom!' - and he was [lying] in the street. That's how fast it happened," adding, "He was actually all-county when he played football for Lyndhurst High School, he works for the Long Island Railroad, he's got a beautiful wife, two beautiful children."

Smith's wife told the Post that her husband seemed "more worried about us than himself ... I could use some prayers." Smith is still in critical but stable condition at Nassau University Medical Center.

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By Jen Chung in News on July 5, 2010 1:13 PM

Comments [rss]

dollarmenu

I think he should have very little trouble convincing his children of the dangers of fireworks.

valeriob

Nice job.

bleeckerite

I've been told that homemade fireworks weren't that expensive- it only cost him an arm in this case

ozik

And even that arm was half off.

Manitoba

He was actually all-county when he played football for Lyndhurst High School, he works for the Long Island Railroad

Somehow, I'm convinced this will translate to "All-American hero", and he will get full worker's comp from the LIRR, all of which will basically be paid for by taxpayers in the end. Plus, his insurance will cover all of it, along with his inevitable short and long-term disability. So, even though I feel bad for him and his family (more his family than him), in the end, we all lose as our fares, taxes, and rates go up to cover bozos like this.

Rocknrope

Last I remember, you don't get Worker's Compensation for getting injured while doing dumb shit at home.

Manitoba

If you're in a union, especially one in New York, you probably do.

sleeplessknight

Oh well.....If your going to play with fire, your going to get burned. If your going to play with explosives, you going to get blown up. The guy should be happy the thing didn't rip his head off

ozik

I'd like to know how drunk the guy was when it happened.

GOP

I'm thinking of Hot Tub Timemachine right now.

Tower18

So wait, he lit a mortar and...what? Did it explode in the tube, or was his arm in the way when it shot out? "He didn't move away fast enough?" Don't they normally have like 5-10 second fuses?

ribaldry

ELMER'S?

TheKlaus

the extend of the damage?

kane

An unfortunate typo.

Mr. Know-It-All

"They could not attach the arm. It's severed from the shoulder down."

If only it had severed from the shoulder to the elbow, he might still have the use of his hand. Poor guy.

Splicer

That is so not funny even though I'm laughing.

Reflect

O everybody is just soooo beautiful. If there that damn superfical to imply that its more tragic because of there beauty. I say good he lost his arm. Some egotistical celebs could use the same treatment. Everyone knows life can be just as beautiful with one arm. So tell him to get over it. Its a good thing, maybe he will champion for people futher than his family say with disabilites severe disabilites. Maybe his kids will. Alot of u could use a dose of lost limb humble pie.

jaycjay

On the other hand (so to speak), if it had been severed from the shoulder up he'd really have problems.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Hard to feel sorry for a guy that has no respect for the law much less his neighbors. I just can't stand how selfish people are to set this large fireworks that shake your windows and set off car alarms.