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.
Right where she sat. Rescue workers had to force air into the house.
When I catch sight of myself in the mirror after my bath tonight, I will NOT be upset.
Thanks for posting this. We get good days and we get bad days. Today I thought was not so good for me. Then I read this, and believe me, I have had a GREAT day!
She didn't fit in the ambulance. They brought in a trailer.
Amen! Things sure could be worse, right? ~whew
This is heart breaking.
We never know how good we have it until we read something like this. It's an eye opener.
What you said.
Check this out!
In the COUCH. The stench was so bad, the firemen had to keep pumping in fresh air!
Calling John Edwards ... La Z Girl class action suit.
bump!
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
I have heard of becomming one with the universe but a couch ? or wouch ?
40-year-old
*** How sad.
Extremely obese people have a great deal of discomfort in simple movement. They become obstinate, to avoid pain; also the embarrassment of being unable to take care of their own hygiene; she may not have fit through the bathroom door...I know of a patient like this whose weight broke a regular ceramic commode...
Just my own opinion, from my own observations, anyone please feel free to disagree, but I've found that the extremely obese are very demanding, very obstinate, and will not take any sort of delay in the gratification of eating. They become so obese that they cannot even roll to the side for a bedpan. They DO break ordinary hospital beds. There is a huge problem with elimination (to put it delicately) and minimal cleanliness. Most have yeast infections in skin folds.
I think I'm gonna hurl...
Was she retarded? Who fed her? Who saw her? Who paid her bills? I've got lots of questions, but OMG, this is just, well, sad and totally disgusting.
You gotta feel bad for her. But gimme a break! Years on the sofa without getting off of it?
How did she even use the restroom?
Ummm hello? Detectives? I didn't go to detective's college or anything, but I'd say that "Neglect" is one of the leading causes of reaching 600 pounds...
Glad I could help. I'm available for consulting any time.
All kidding aside, there has got to be a psychiatric condition complete with definition regarding these people and their enablers.
Someone had to help her stay this way though. She couldn't leave the couch.
She never left the couch...you figure it out.
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