Could you cut off your own arm with a pocket knife?

[RedWolf]

Here is an article about a rock climber that go his arm pinned beneath a boulder and thus trapped alone in a Caynon.

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-05-02-0048.html

After running out of water 5 days later he realized that his life was in danger and amputated his arm below the elbow with a POCKET KNIFE. He applied a tourniquet and was climbing to safety when authorities rescued him.

Some time ago I asked the question on here "Would you let somebody hack your finger off with an axe for a million dollars". As I remember the opinion was about split between yes and no. I was one of tose that said yes because that was a LOT of money and the pain would hurt but you'd get over it with medical attention.

However the finger/axe question would be quick.. one fell swoop by somebody ELSE. you'd just close your eyes and wait for the pain.

I don't think I could EVER, EVER cut my OWN arm off with a pocket knife even if doing otherwise meant dehydration and death. We're not talking just a finger (which is mostly bone) but an ARM. You'd have to make yourself hack through muscle, ligament, bone, arteries and flesh. Just the thought of it makes me sick and i can't even comprehend inflicting that much pain upon myself. (maybe this climber used some kind of pain killer but I don't see any mention if it). Either way that guys one tough SOB.

So the question of course is could YOU do it?

 

[Perfection]

Of course not.

That's why I always do adventorous things with other people, cause they'd be around to help, if this dude brought a friend with him, he would have still had two arms!

 

[Cecasander]

I prefer death above that kind of pain, different from the fact that cutting off an arm (or another body part) is gross....

 

[Ohwell]

I can't do such a thing to myself.

 

[D' Artagnan]

I have a question : why did he need to cut off his arm

Anyway, I'd never do that

 

[Perfection]

Because he was to stupid to remember the golden rule for dangerous sports, NEVER GO ALONE!

 

[stalin006]

that was stupid, sltough roaches are known to eat one of their legs so not to starv to death

 

[MummyMan]

Yeah i'd do it. I can deal with pain. During one of high school cross country meets i stress fractured my fibula (it can happen) halfway through (2.5 km, about 1.5 miles) and it hurt like hell. I itched at my neck to focus my mind on the pain on my neck to distract myself. It helped and i finished second in the race.

 

[HuckFinn]

Originally posted by Perfection
Because he was to stupid to remember the golden rule for dangerous sports, NEVER GO ALONE!

My version of the golden rule of dangerous sports is NEVER GO!

It works very well. I also still have both arms left... I think it is kind of evolution in action, the stupidier individuals lose body parts before others...

 

[MummyMan]

Stupidier? I'd watch your tail because evolution is comin after you...

 

[TrailblazingScot]

I think I could do it if in the same situation...

But this guy was actually there, actually did it and then walked 8 hours till he found some other people and was still standing when the chopper got him.

What a tough bloke, but he should have been better prepared, be it with a mobile/satellite phone or a mate.


Bet he'll be up there again with a prosthetic arm, he seems to have the strength of character to overcome adversity.

 

[WillJ]

I voted yes. I can't imagine doing such a thing as of right now, but you can't over-estimate the will to survive. People in the middle of sea for long periods of time have eaten shoes to stay alive. People have eaten other people to stay alive. It's just a guess, but I'd have to say that I'm like most other people in that, when faced with death, we're willing to do pretty much anything to stay alive (unless our lives are really crappy at the time, of course).

Originally posted by HuckFinn
I think it is kind of evolution in action, the stupidier individuals lose body parts before others...

Um, I don't think losing body parts is a process of evolution. Unless people with one arm have less kids on average. (Oh wait, maybe that's true.... )

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Originally posted by Perfection
Of course not.

That's why I always do adventorous things with other people, cause they'd be around to help, if this dude brought a friend with him, he would have still had two arms!

Dude, people looking for his arm (cut off) couldn't get it from under the boulder, what sort of friend would he need to free him? Get real

 

[GerrardCapashen]

I think that I would want to, but I would probably pass out from the pain before I was able to do it.

Needless to say, I would try not to get into this kind of situation. Perfection said it well.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Originally posted by GerrardCapashen
I think that I would want to, but I would probably pass out from the pain before I was able to do it.

Needless to say, I would try not to get into this kind of situation. Perfection said it well.

Perfection and his superhuman mate?

 

[Kentonio]

Erm I think the point Kitten was that the mate could either go off and get help, or move the boulder.

 

[Deep_Thought76]

Theoretically, I know that some go through life without the use of both their hands, or vision, or hearing. But, I've had them for too long to think about living without them. Not saying death would be better, but crippling yourself like that would be almost as bad.

 

[gael]

I heard about this today on the news, that fella is tough.
He must have carved around the elbow to get past the bone, i can't even amagine the pain.

 

[Furry Spatula]

I'm sorry to burst your bubble but i believe that story is a fake. After reading your summary, i though that sounded much like a story i heard 2 or 3 years ago. The one i heard was about a man who owned some property, was cutting some trees down, and he had a tree fall across his leg. He couldn't get it out. And after a few days he finaly decided to amputate his leg, Drumroll please, with a pocket knife. And yes he some how managed to make a tournicate too.

But still interesting question. ANd nope i probably wouldn't. Seeing as i doubt I'd be able to actually cut it off. If memory serves me correct people usually pass out from intense ammounts of pain. Cutting throught the bone would be incredibly difficlut and would take too much time, with the passing out and all.

Edit: I see its from American Press, but still i have my doubts about that story. I shouldn't have doubts about it, but i do.

 

[Archer 007]

Nope, im too chicken.