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600-Pound Woman Dies After Being Surgically Removed From Couch
wftv.com ^
| 5:09 pm EDT August 11, 2004
| wftv.com
Posted on 08/11/2004 2:49:06 PM PDT by Calpernia
STUART, Fla. -- A dramatic rescue ended tragically in Stuart, Florida, a rescue so difficult firefighters say they have never seen anything like it.
It happened late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning at the home of a 600-pound woman who was having trouble breathing. Rescuers went in not knowing how difficult it would be to get her out. 40-year-old Gail Grinds was literally stuck to her couch and had to be removed surgically at the hospital.
Authorities estimate she had been on the couch anywhere from two to five years.
Martin County Fire amd Rescue crews faced what seemed to be an impossible mission. Everyone going inside had to wear protective gear. The stench was so powerful they had to blast in fresh air.
They tried to cut out the front door, but at four-and-a-half feet wide, it wouldn't work. They had to cut plywood since a normal stretcher wouldn't do.
An ambulance was too small, so they brought in a trailer to get her out. While rescue crews came up with a back-door rescue plan, detectives secured what had become a crime scene, questioning family members about how it got so bad.
Using planks, they loaded the woman on to the trailer, still attached to the couch. Removing her would be too painful, since her body is grafted to the fabric. After years of staying put, her skin has literally become one with the sofa and it must be surgically removed.
Detectives are investigating whether they have a case of neglect, or if it is simply a very sad story.
Grinds was taken to the Martin Memorial hospital where doctors removed her from the couch, but she died in spite of all the attempts to save her life.
TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 600lb; areyouseries; cortislim; couch; couchpotato; firefighters; florida; floriduh; gailgrinds; gayle; gaylegrinds; gilbertgrape; grape; grinds; justdamn; leonardodicaprioflik; obesity; rescue; stuart; stuartfl; stuartfla; stuartflorida; stuck; whatiseatinggilbert; woman
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1
posted on
08/11/2004 2:49:17 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
To: Calpernia
To: Calpernia
Who was feeding her?
If she was melded to the couch, she obviously couldn't shop.
3
posted on
08/11/2004 2:51:18 PM PDT
by
wideawake
(God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
To: Calpernia
4
posted on
08/11/2004 2:51:47 PM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all)
To: Bloody Sam Roberts; mhking
Sam's right. This is a just damn ping.
5
posted on
08/11/2004 2:51:47 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
("People never like what they don't understand")
To: Calpernia
To: Admin Moderator
Why did this get moved to BLOGGERS?
This is breaking news in Florida. It is news.
7
posted on
08/11/2004 2:52:52 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
("People never like what they don't understand")
To: Calpernia
Grinds was taken to the Martin Memorial hospital where doctors removed her from the couch, but she died in spite of all the attempts to save her life.This story will come in handy the next time my wife yells at me to get off my ass and do something.
8
posted on
08/11/2004 2:52:58 PM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all)
To: Calpernia
9
posted on
08/11/2004 2:53:01 PM PDT
by
PISANO
(NEVER FORGET 911 !!!!)
To: Calpernia
Talk about your Couch Potato(e)?
10
posted on
08/11/2004 2:53:17 PM PDT
by
theDentist
("John Kerry changes positions more often than a Nevada prostitute.")
To: Calpernia
oh Dear God! Can you even begin to imagine?! Sounds like neglect to me. How could a family let her go that long in this condition. Very sad story here.
11
posted on
08/11/2004 2:53:30 PM PDT
by
SheLion
(The terrorist are here.......living among us. It's too late to close the borders.)
To: Searching4Justice
Holy Merde!!!
The woman and the couch became one.....a wouch!!! :o
12
posted on
08/11/2004 2:53:38 PM PDT
by
BossLady
(Kerry/Edwards - They talk so much crap you need two Johns.......)
To: wideawake
It is currently being treated as a crime scene. The police are investigating who must have known her condition.
13
posted on
08/11/2004 2:54:00 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
("People never like what they don't understand")
To: SheLion
Someone had to be bringing her the food . . . so in that respect, she wasn't being all that neglected.
14
posted on
08/11/2004 2:54:22 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(I love this job more than I love taffy, and I'm a man who loves his taffy.)
To: Calpernia
15
posted on
08/11/2004 2:55:06 PM PDT
by
csvset
To: Xenalyte
Someone had to be bringing her the food . . . so in that respect, she wasn't being all that neglected. Bringing? Sounds like they must have stopped at the door and just threw the food in. Oh boy. This is pathetic.
And sometimes I'm not happy?! Boy, things can always be worse. :(
16
posted on
08/11/2004 2:56:25 PM PDT
by
SheLion
(The terrorist are here.......living among us. It's too late to close the borders.)
To: Calpernia
How did she go to the bathroom?
17
posted on
08/11/2004 2:56:32 PM PDT
by
Recovering Hermit
(When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really.)
To: Calpernia
Her story was probably just as bizarre at the hospital. How did they get her into the ambulance? Guerneys were not made to carry a ton of person. How did they lift her onto an examining table, and was that table capable of holding her?
I can just picture the doc, probably weighing 150 lbs, having to climb on top of her to try to open her airways.
18
posted on
08/11/2004 2:56:38 PM PDT
by
Mamzelle
(for a post-neo conservatism)
To: Admin Moderator
19
posted on
08/11/2004 2:56:38 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
("People never like what they don't understand")
To: Calpernia
Wow, now that's what I call a couch potato.
20
posted on
08/11/2004 2:57:05 PM PDT
by
ShandaLear
(The Kerry/Edwards Plan for Prosperity: Marry Well & Sue the Rich)
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