Man Cuts Arm Off Installing Boiler

If ever there was a reason to employ a qualified professional to install a new boiler this would be it. John Metz, 31 from Connecticut decided to install a new boiler in his home.

What happened next will stay with him for the rest of his life. John's left arm became stuck in his furnace. The only way John could survive was to drink water from his leaking furnace. As hours turned to days he started to smell his arm rotting.

He had to make a decision, taking into account his arm was starting to rot he could either sit there and hope someone would come to his rescue or he could take matters into his own hands and free himself.

So from what started out as a rather innocuous spot of DIY actually turned into a life or death situation. John started to amputate his own arm after being trapped for 3 days. At this time friends became concerned about his whereabouts after he missed several days of work and a softball match.

Luca DiGregorio a friend of John Metz went over to his house to see if he was okay, he noticed his dog at the rear of the house and became concerned. Mr DiGregorio called the Police who then found John in agony trapped in his basement.

Fire fighters rushed to the scene, ripped apart the furnace and used special tools to free John. He was immediately rushed to Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut. John's surgeon Dr Scott Ellner reported that John had almost managed to complete the amputation with just a small bit of fat and some nerves preventing him from completing the gory task.

It is not known what tools John used to amputate his arm, but Dr Ellner said John was an inspiration and even though his arm was seriously infected he is expected to survive. However he will still need further surgery so his arm can be fitted with a prosthetic.

It is not clear who is at fault for this tragic event, but John has been awarded a new boiler and an inquest is being carried out. For any would be amateur boiler installers the message here has to be, get a qualified professional to do the job for you.

All boiler installers must be Gas Safe qualified and registered. Gas Safe has recently taken over from CORGI. The best way to make sure you are making the right decision as far as choosing a new boiler is get a British Gas heating engineer to provide a free no obligation quote. They will visit your house and provide useful information and advice. You don't have to buy from them but can use the information given to make a better decision. Once you have decided what make and model you need you can look online, read boiler reviews and compare prices.

A gas boiler is the most important part of any home it provides hot water and warmth for your family. Cheap boilers can be unreliable and energy inefficient, make sure you buy a reputable make which has lots of positive feedback.

British Gas Boiler