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."
