Skip to comments.
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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120 ... 201-207 next last
To: Calpernia; Clemenza; rmlew; PARodrig; NYC GOP Chick; RaceBannon; Yehuda; nutmeg
Some people just need a good diet and excersise.
81
posted on
08/11/2004 4:33:36 PM PDT
by
Cacique
(quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat)
To: Xenalyte
"Someone had to be bringing her the food . . . so in that respect, she wasn't being all that neglected." Doesn't sound like anybody was cleaning up after her. I cannot imagine how nasty that must have been....after 2-5 years! That is truly a pathetic soul.
82
posted on
08/11/2004 4:35:49 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left." (Eccl. 10:2))
To: Recovering Hermit
"How did she go to the bathroom?" Ummmm....she didn't actually GO to the bathroom.
83
posted on
08/11/2004 4:40:41 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left." (Eccl. 10:2))
To: sweetliberty
84
posted on
08/11/2004 4:43:09 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
("No Hamster Aspirators Here!" -Vote Dubya, he doesn't artificially aspirate hamsters.)
To: Xenalyte
"When I catch sight of myself in the mirror after my bath tonight, I will NOT be upset." Boy, can I ever relate to that. And to think, today I was feeling fat!
85
posted on
08/11/2004 4:43:29 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left." (Eccl. 10:2))
To: harrycarey
I always know that it is time to start losing weight and getting some exercise when my skin starts growing into the couch.
LMAO.... There are many in this world that one can feel sorry for on a daily basis. Sorry, but my pity meter can't seem to register with this woman.
To: SheLion
At the same time, she is accountable for her own actions. I'm sure no one was force feeding her.
87
posted on
08/11/2004 4:46:09 PM PDT
by
diamond6
(Everyone who is for abortion has already been born. Ronald Reagan)
To: Chad Fairbanks
"That still doesn't explain where the remote disappeared to..." Do we really want to think about that?
88
posted on
08/11/2004 4:48:07 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left." (Eccl. 10:2))
To: Drago
I had to go look. I'm glad they had the sheets on.
89
posted on
08/11/2004 4:49:42 PM PDT
by
Dog Gone
To: cajungirl
Almost makes me want to go out and walk 5 miles....just because I can. Almost.
90
posted on
08/11/2004 4:51:21 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left." (Eccl. 10:2))
To: Calpernia
She'll have to be buried in a piano case.
91
posted on
08/11/2004 4:51:33 PM PDT
by
sinkspur
("Who is the father of the Sons of Zebedee"?--Cardinal Fanfani)
To: Petronski
I might not be, but I bet Xena's Guy would voice an objection or two.
92
posted on
08/11/2004 4:56:48 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(I love this job more than I love taffy, and I'm a man who loves his taffy.)
To: Mamzelle
I work in the healthcare field...
I could tell you some doozy stories...about the "hefty" patients I've dealt with.
Some very sad stories, some kinda funny stories, some just horrible stories.
Anyway there is specialized equipment made just for the over-sized patients..."Big-Boy" beds....wheelchairs, commodes...etc. Large crane type devices...( they look like engine hoists..) that enable staff to move/turn patients...etc.
FWIW-
93
posted on
08/11/2004 4:58:48 PM PDT
by
Osage Orange
(STOP REPEAT OFFENDERS...DON'T RE-ELECT THEM..!!!)
To: The_Victor
94
posted on
08/11/2004 4:59:08 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(I love this job more than I love taffy, and I'm a man who loves his taffy.)
To: tioga
Oh, man, I bet you have stories that'd curl our toes. Share.
The husband of one of my best friends is an EMT, and he found out I have a high gross-out threshold, so he's made it his mission to put me off my feed. He's not quite accomplished it yet, but he's come closer than I want to admit to him. ;)
95
posted on
08/11/2004 5:00:27 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(I love this job more than I love taffy, and I'm a man who loves his taffy.)
To: sweetliberty; Chad Fairbanks
Chad made my skin crawl with that forced visual too.
96
posted on
08/11/2004 5:00:45 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
("People never like what they don't understand")
To: Calpernia
Wow not only had she not gotten up from the couch, if her skin had grown into, she literally hadnt' moved for that long.
How sad, and gross at the same time. She must have had a really sad life in those years.
97
posted on
08/11/2004 5:00:48 PM PDT
by
lawgirl
(is RNC bound! W here I come!)
To: Sunshine55
Oh, if there were just a way to Saran-Wrap her down without waking her up, you'd have the makings of a helluva prank.
98
posted on
08/11/2004 5:01:03 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(I love this job more than I love taffy, and I'm a man who loves his taffy.)
To: Judith Anne
will not take any sort of delay in the gratification of eating JA, I have a sister in law who has GOT to be closing in on 400 pounds. She is an instant appetite suppressant for me; the look that is on her face while eating is very creepy. An obsessed look, hard to describe. And she can REALLY pack it away.
JL
99
posted on
08/11/2004 5:01:59 PM PDT
by
EggsAckley
(........."Yo" is "Oy" spelled backwards.........)
To: Osage Orange
I just don't understand at what point in ones life do people decide to stop moving. I go crazy if it rains a few days in a row and I can't go out and WALK. When do people lose the urge to move?
100
posted on
08/11/2004 5:04:00 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
("People never like what they don't understand")
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-80, 81-100, 101-120 ... 201-207 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson