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.
Ughh.
Can't wait until the cops bust someone for letting this woman get too fat. (/sarcasm)
Before my dad retired, he worked as the communications director for the city he lives in. One evening, they got a 911 call about some homelss bum who was having some kind of problem. When the paramedics examined the guy, they found his underwear was literally fused to his skin. Had to be surgically removed.
We don't pay paramedics and fire fighters enough, IMHO.
-Yoda
That still doesn't explain where the remote disappeared to...
It beggars the imagination just to think of such a thing. Oy-yoy-yoy.
The woman is 40 years old.
Just curious.
Do you think someone else should be held criminally responsible for her condition?
She was probably receiving disability checks of some kind, that's why the relatives put up with her. For the checks.
You got that right!
What they see, smell and experience on their jobs.......well.......there isn't enough money on earth, IMHO. Sweet Street Saviors.
Would you be upset if I caught sight of you in the mirror after your bath tonight?
OMG this is disgusting! Who in the world kept bringing her food if she was unable to get up from the couch???
Mmmmmph! GAG! ACK!
Hell no. All the detectives have to do is look at this woman, and say "She neglected herself". Case Closed.
bttt
Probably some nice friend or family member who decided they didn't want the woman to starve... and who will now be scapegoated at the Altar of Anti-Personal Responsibility...
BS! No way. Did she just crap on herself? This story is completely bogus.
Oh yuck. I had a visual of that :(
But seriously, Chad. At some point she stopped getting her own food and somebody was obviously bringing it to her. Yeah, the woman neglected herself, but what kind of person knowingly feeds someone who is adhered to the couch and doesn't call social services or something?
The article doesn't say whether this woman lived alone or not, did you notice?
Since the rescue workers had to force air in....
I hope no one else lived there.
More significantly, how was she disposing of the utilized food?
True. However, as I said, ya can't let someone starve.
Besides, maybe someone DID call Social Services, but they were too busy trying to figure out how take homeschooler's kids away, how to give more money and services to illegals, etc... and they just didn't have time.
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