How can one (or several) not let go of a rope?
Must have got caught in the rope somehow. Being able to hold on hard enough to pull your own finger off would be very rare, I think.
“How can one (or several) not let go of a rope?”
A rope wrapped around a hand will tighten as it gets pulled and you can’t let go.
Basic rope safety -— don’t wrap around your hand.
Apparently, no one there grew up on a farm.
Cheap nylon rope, wrapped around their knuckles and fingers. Sailors and fishermen are well aware of the hazards associated with handling rope like this.