Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
CT Man Nearly Cuts Off Arm To Free Himself From Furnace
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 10, 2010
Modified Jun 15, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 10, 2010
Modified Jun 15, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A 31-year-old man was trapped in his Hartford, Connecticut basement for days when his arm became trapped in a furnace. Jonathan Metz was trying to fix the furnace on Sunday when he got stuck. His calls for help were unanswered and two days later, the Hartford Courant reports, "He was in and out of consciousness, but Metz, 31, knew what he had to do. He had to cut his arm off."
A trauma doctor, Dr. Scott Ellner at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, said, "His arm was [decaying] and once that happens you release toxins. He did mention about the smell and he knew something wasn't right and that in order to save himself this was going to be the only option. I don't think he knew exactly why he had to do this other than just to free himself but it was right thing to do." Ellner explained, "With tools he had within reach he attempted to amputate his own arm [below the left shoulder]. He nearly did it but not completely." The Courant says, "His rescuers had to complete the amputation. Doctors were not able to reattach the limb. They hope he can be fitted with a prosthetic arm."
Metz was found when a friend, who was worried that Metz hadn't shown up to a softball game and never showed up for work, stopped by his house on Wednesday. Metz also survived by drinking water that leaked from the furnace. Another doctor said, "It's inspiring to see someone take their life into their own hands, quite literally."
Tagged
amputation
connecticut
Doctor
furnace
gangrene
jonathan metz
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .