Man Pinned Under Fallen Tree Amputates His Own Leg With Pocket Knife

[matcom]

<snip>

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.

Al Hill had been cutting trees last Friday when one fell on him. After freeing himself, he cried out for help, and a neighbor passing through this sparsely populated area heard him.

Eric Bookey then hiked nearly two miles to get a cellular signal and placed an emergency call to the town's all-volunteer fire department about 7:30 p.m., Fire Chief Luana Dowling told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Hill was eventually airlifted by helicopter to a hospital where he underwent amputation surgery, Dowling said. "He's a pretty remarkable person," Dowling said.

A hospital spokeswoman said Hill was in serious condition on Wednesday, and that he was declining interviews.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ODD_SELF_AMPUTATION?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-06-16-43-16

[underpants]

1. Fucking badassed

drops quarter in swear jar

[Orsino]

2. Ain't that some shit?

After all that, "he underwent amputation surgery." Hardly seems fair.