Self-amputation

“This guy didn't seem to wait too long. Do you think you could do it?

Harrowing act of survival
Placer logger amputates leg to free himself from beneath a fallen tree.
By Kim Minugh and Ryan Lillis - Bee Staff Writers
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, June 7, 2007
In a remarkable display of strong will and survival, a Placer County logger cut off his leg to free himself from beneath a fallen tree on a remote hillside east of Colfax.

Al Hill, 66, an experienced logger from the small Gold Rush community of Iowa Hill, was recovering Wednesday at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

With a cell phone but no reception, Hill resorted to amputating his left leg below the knee with a pocketknife sometime Friday.

It was not until that night, reportedly about 11 hours after the tree fell on him at 8:30 a.m., that Hill's daylong ordeal ended at the trauma center.

He remained in serious condition Wednesday and was expected to be hospitalized for some time, said Robin Montgomery, a Sutter Roseville spokeswoman.

Hill has declined to be interviewed by the media, Montgomery said.

He was cutting down trees near the Big Dipper Mine when one pinned him to the ground, according to Iowa Hill's volunteer fire chief, Luana Dowling.

At some point, after the amputation, Hill's cries for help caught the attention of Eric Bookey, 31, a new Iowa Hill resident.

Bookey helped Hill to a truck, and they sped to an emergency clearing area, where they would be met by a helicopter.

On the way, they were joined by Dowling, who said she was alerted about the accident at 7:30 p.m. after Bookey finally got cell phone reception and was able to place an emergency call.

Hill was conscious but groggy and barely talking before being airlifted to Sutter Roseville, Dowling said.

Dowling described Hill, whom she's known for more than 20 years, as a family man, "very quiet, very likable, very hard-working."

His desire to survive what must have been a terrifying situation has amazed those who have heard the tale.

"He's a pretty strong-willed person," Dowling said.

Public records indicate Hill is the owner of A A A Timber Services.

Dowling said Hill has been logging in the Iowa Hill area for many years; her brother, Randy Campbell, said he and Hill used to clear trees on terrain so rough that professional logging companies wouldn't send their equipment there.

Residents described Hill as a private man, serious and reserved but well-respected.

He is a remnant of the sawmill industry that once dominated their town.

"All Al talked about was cutting the big trees," Campbell said.

"Even to pro timber fallers, fluke accidents happen all the time."

The accident has been the talk of Iowa Hill, a rural abode to about 150 people. It is a close-knit community spread over a large area -- about 10 square miles.

The town's only buildings are the Iowa Hill School, a solar-powered one-room schoolhouse with seven students, and the Iowa Hill Store, the town's all-in-one post office, grocery store, restaurant and bar.

Both buildings can be found on the winding, one-lane Iowa Hill Road.

Dowling said there is much concern for Hill among residents of the tiny community, which lacks modern conveniences like electricity and cell phone towers.

"Everybody has just kind of pulled together," Dowling said. "Anything he needs, we'll be there for him."

Most in Iowa Hill know him. Some know him only by reputation -- and that's all that connected the logger and his rescuer before that fateful Friday, said Bookey's mother, Karen Bookey.

She said her son hasn't talked about what happened out of respect for Hill's privacy.

Her son has visited Hill at the hospital and was relieved to see the logger in good spirits, Karen Bookey said.

She and her husband, Fred, are proud of their son, as are other members of the community.

But he shrugs off the praise, Karen Bookey said.

"(Eric) doesn't see himself as a hero that way," she said. "I heard him say, 'Mr. Hill is the real hero. He hung on.' "

On Wednesday night, as the Iowa Hill community celebrated the graduation of two eighth-graders, the school's only teacher, Richard Marks, led the town in observing a moment of silence to honor Hill.

"It's a terrible accident," he said, "and he's such a quiet, never-rock-the-boat kind of guy."

http://www.sacbee.com/101/v-print/story/209428.html
last edited: 6/07/07 11:43:35 AM”

“11 hours is a long time to go without a beer for these guys”

“Soooooo, he only waited 11 hours? They were probably just starting to get the search party organized. To answer your question; I'm not sure if I could do it, but I think I'd wait to see if someone came looking for me first.”

“dang, i thought i was impatient”

“I mean there was this one girl one night who....”

“XL do you ever have anything of substance to contribute?

Seems like this guy would have been found - he had to have left a "path" wouldn't he have had equipment, a truck - something? close by - wouldn't he have been expected back around sundown?

The article doesn't say how long he was pinned.”

“They lack modern conveniences like electricity?

I'm curious as to where this guy was found. Was it right next to the tree and the rest of his leg?”

“yeah DT, how did someone hear his cries for help AFTER he hacked it off......and why didn't he use his chainsaw to do the hacking instead of a knife.....”

“Was he worried about being late for dinner?”

“Chainsaw wouldn't have been a clean cut, probably would have RIPPED out his artery and veins, splintered the bone. He would have died way to quickly to have accessed help. That's my guess anyway.”

“Reckon this fella ever graduated eigth grade?”

“Well, he neatly amputated his knee without killing himself, so he must have gotten as far as biology in high school, right?”

“I'm tempted to call BULLSH*T. How did he cut through his tib/fib? With a pocketknife?!? How did he tie off his popliteal artery? The leg was still viable, it wasn't ala Aaron Ralston.
Please let me see details.”

“A couple of weeks ago there was a german guy who decapitated himself with a chainsaw. He freaked out, went berserk, killed his father and then decapitated himself. They said, he 'threw' himself into the chainsaw.”

“It said it was below the knee, how far below the knee. Was it just about the foot? A tree had fallen on it. How big was the tree? It probably crushed any bones, so he probably didn't have to cut through bone. His skin was probably already torn and he probably had some bleeding going on, both internally and perhaps externally. That would warrent the quickness in his actions. The guy that found him probably hired him to clear some property that he had bought being new to the area. The new guy went off to work, came back home and heard the man. It must have been wooded, since they had to get him to an area where a helicopter could land. Just some guesses.
last edited: 6/08/07 5:18:58 AM”

“wouldn't it be easier to dig out under the tree?”

“That's my question Sacco.
I'm guessing it was rocky ground and that he was in a awkward position to use or reach the chainsaw to continue cutting the tree off of himself.

My pocketknife has a small saw on it.”

“Roam..I have as much of substance to contribute as you do. Oh wait...you did that girl too didn't you (LOL)

EDITORIAL NOTE: The above comment was meant as a humourous comment in response to a quip by Mr. ROAM. It was not intended to insult or degrade Mr. Roam's present future or past relationships.

Guys we hear what he says in the initial reports it will be interesting to hear what comes out after his story is reviewed. Personally if it comes out it was something stupid...we will know. If he had to cut his own leg off....pretty tough if you ask me.
last edited: 6/08/07 8:34:49 AM”

“thing the story didn't tell us was that he cut the wrong one off first.”

“LOL @ OPE.

But that still doesn't necessarily answer my Q about eigth grade.

"Ninth graders - pffft!"
~Mr. Gojo
High School Shop Teacher”

“I thought I answered that one gojo. . .

“Well, he neatly amputated his knee without killing himself, so he must have gotten as far as biology in high school, right?”
Pamela
3:13:08 PM
6/07/07”

“Pammie, you are one sick chick!!

Shop teacher...........band saw??
Yuck!!”

“YOWCH....

http://www.snopes.com/risque/penile/scrotum.htm”

“I've seen that somewhere before, probably here.”

“If this is the new trendy thing, you can include me Out.”

“polishing the jewelry takes on a whole new image.”

“LOL....well well. so it looks like I will be joining Tilt in the "I will not fold, spindle, mutilate or remove parts of my body."”