john thompson farm accident

The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. more of the story, Why new "Exit Only" signs have appeared on Hwy. During his time as a Realtor, he had trouble using keys and opening the doors of the houses he was showing. He was home alone when his arms got caught in a tractor's power takeoff. Kevin Duchschere, a metro team editor, has worked in the newsroom since 1986 as a general assignment reporter and has covered St. Paul City Hall, the Minnesota Legislature and Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington and Dakota counties. "Coming from a town of 70 people and not knowing anything being thrown into the spotlight and being known around the world was just scary," he said. 100. He refused to reschedule. He says while hell get the occasional hug from someone who recognizes him and remembers his story, hes also been taken advantage of and harassed by people. An organization or individual has paid for the creation of this work but did not approve or review it. more of the story, Why new "Exit Only" signs have appeared on Hwy. Until he lost his arms Thompson was just one of 13 seniors at tiny Bowdon High School, near his hometown of Hurdsfield, N.D. Reporter - Kingston, Epsom, Elmbridge, Richmond, Wandsworth, Croydon. The adjustment was confusing and painful. As a result of his fall on 26 March 2015, the 56 year old worker died from his injuries the following day. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Loaded onto a plane bound for a hospital in Minnesota, John's arms were surgically reattached and he was placed into a four week coma so he could properly heal. The then-high school senior's arms were severed by a tractor's power takeoff and successfully reattached in an eight-hour surgery. That's not John Thompson's story anymore. At rest they bend slightly at the elbows; some movements aren't possible for him. 2023 www.sj-r.com. He says the only pain he really felt was when the exposed nerve hanging down his right side knocked against something. I want everybody to know about it. The crash closed a local road in both directions. 100. Have the years been good to him? Its frustrating. Before long, Thompson was getting requests from strangers to touch and heal them and threats from others who were jealous of his sudden fame and fortune. His parents, Larry and Karen Thompson, still live on the farm though they lease the land to others. Id like to write a more open book.. Only later did he find out, he said, that his lawyer had turned down a settlement offer. John Thompson lost both of his arms as a teenager while using an auger, but was able to have both of them surgically attached. Last year, Thompson began losing some strength in his hands, a problem made worse by North Dakota winters, he said. Burgum's 'major' announcement in Fargo this week, Minnesota Crookston's Jake Hjelle named national Division II player of the year, Graduating seniors at Grand Forks Central, Red River receive diplomas, Independent bookstores on the rise in Minnesota, each with a story of their own. "When it gets cold, my hands don't work at all," he said. Confabulation: Whats really happening when people with dementia seem to lie? His accident serves as proof that he can make it through things.". "I could still improve his function if he wanted to," Van Beek said. "Look at all the things that have been written about me you know, 'Too tough to die.' Weigel first met Thompson when he visited her following reconstructive surgery on her own severed arm. A new information appeal has been launched after a fatal crash in Old Coulsdon on Friday (October 1). This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. He can't wear gloves, so he uses socks to keep his hands warm. There's no comparison. While health insurance covered many of the expenses following the accident, Thompson sued his father it was their idea in 1997 to collect on the family's property insurance against the manufacturer of the farm equipment that had battered him. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. He remembers the trip well. The subsequent surgery to reattach his arms garnered international media attention all a little daunting for the then 18-year-old farm kid from Hurdsfield, North Dakota. Despite the dire situation that day in the emergency room, Thompson remembers carrying on normal conversations with people, worrying that he left the tractor running, and even getting angry at the medical staff for cutting off his brand new cowboy boots. Patients ask me about that story to this day.". I still remember spinning on the shaft and then my arms just finally came off, didn't feel a thing. "In Singapore, I was introduced as the guy who put the arms back on that farm kid. I met the Clintons, and I have no memory of it at all. "I try doing other things and they just haven't worked out. "We just kind of keep each other in check," she said. He also recorded a Christmas album for his parents and has a He lives mainly on state and federal disability payments, which limit how much he can earn before he risks losing those benefits. Offered scholarships by several colleges, he chose the University of Mary in Bismarck, about 85 miles from his home. After getting his arms reattached by surgeon Dr. Allen Van Beek (a 1966 University of North Dakota graduate) at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minn., he was put into a coma for four weeks so he could heal. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to No one else was home, so he walked 100 yards to the house to call for help turning the doorknob with his mouth to get inside and using a pencil to dial the phone. He hates special treatment, like the time a friend offered to play him in pool with one hand behind his back. He has since sadly passed away. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. They lost the case because Thompson was a family member, not a farm employee. In a five-hour relay, 18-year-old Thompson and his appendages were taken by road and air from the farm here in Hurdsfield to a hospital in Minneapolis. He was still fuming about his wrecked boots, when he noticed the staff carrying a trash bag. MINOT, N.D. Its pretty clear John Thompson is a guy who doesnt get rattled by much. "The struggles have just changed him completely," she said. And yeah, I still remember spinning on the shaft, he said. John Thompson was home alone when he had both his arms ripped off in a farming accident. In addition to working on his house and on the book, Thompson lifts weights, trying to rehab after recent knee surgery. He visited the White House and worked with First Lady Hillary Clinton to promote 911 and ambulance service in rural areas. All rights reserved. Military veterans sent him their medals. On Jan. 11, 1992, a teenager who hated being in front of a crowd was working on his family's farm near Hurdsfield. At Londonderry Crown Court today, Limavady farmer John Thompson was fined 2,500 for a health and safety breach that resulted in a fatal accident on his farm in March of this year. He worked three years as a real estate agent, but ran into problems there; once he was unable to write up a purchase offer because the house was unheated and his hands were too cold to hold a pen. "That's not easy to deal with as a young man and wanting to be independent," she said. Thompson says at that point he just kind of shut down". North Dakota's John Thompson became famous overnight in January 1992, when he survived having both arms ripped off on his Hurdsfield, ND farm. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. "It's not like he can do what the others his age can do," she said. Everyone says, 'You've struggled so much with the accident.' A door in the house still has the hole that John punched with his knee to get to the phone, but the old carpet has been replaced. When he was taken to hospital he was told he 'shouldn't be alive' as there was pretty much 'no blood in you'. John Thompson doesn't remember a lot about the North Dakota farm kid whose arms were ripped off by an auger 30 years ago and then reattached during six hours of painstaking surgery in Robbinsdale. After having his arms reattached and trying to regain some normalcy in his life, Thompson went to school at the University of Mary. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. The story of a small-town North Dakota kid who dialed for help with a pencil clenched in his teeth and waited in the bathtub so he wouldn't get blood on his mother's carpet was featured in national headlines. He's close with his family. "That's always been a great thing about it," he said. This is a whole, new design which only allows one pill at a time.. He often had to hand the keys to a client. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Thirty years ago, North Dakotan farmer John Thompson suffered a terrible accident which nearly killed him and tore off both of his arms. 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YouTube Channel But the 48-year-old man in the leather jacket and neatly trimmed beard says he can no longer relate to the 18-year-old high school senior who slipped and fell into a power takeoff shaft while moving barley into a grinder making him, in a "ghastly way" as the Los Angeles Times put it, "an American hero.". Thompson still struggles daily with the results of that accident - both physically and emotionally, said his mom, Karen Thompson, who still lives on the Hurdsfield, N.D., farm where the accident took place. Jennifer Weigel, a Minot paralegal and Thompson pal, said he likes nothing better than working on his house, eating barbecue with her family and singing karaoke. "But he likes people to hear his story," Weigel said. But today his cat, Toby, is getting on his last nerve. The then-high school senior's arms were severed by a tractor's power intake and successfully reattached in an eight-hour surgery. John Thompson lost both of his arms as a teenager while using an. Were there drawbacks to his instant fame? His mom said the emotional scars and depression that followed the accident have been the hardest part of John's struggle. "Coming from a town of 70 people and not knowing anything being thrown into the spotlight and being known around the world was just scary," he said. Attending, they found the driver who was taken to St Georges Hospital with "life-threatening injuries". He had to call police to keep stalkers at bay and hire bodyguards when he was speaking. While his arms might have been torn off in the horrific farming accident, doctors had a bold plan to undo the damage as they'd recovered his arms from the farm and planned to reattach them. Kevin Duchschere We see that you have javascript disabled. He sank into a deep depression after Christmas Eve 1994, when he accidentally ran over and killed his dog Tuffy, the blue heeler that had licked his face and awakened him after he was thrown by the takeoff shaft. I didn't know what was going on, he recalled. Yeah, you cant help but feel good about something like that., Fargo's unusual dome house undergoes massive remodel to bring blast from the past back 'around' again, Fargo's most famous UFO sighting was in the skies above a 1949 Bison-Augustana football game. To Thompson "it's not a big deal" anymore, and it "embarrasses" him when people ask to hear the story, the story they probably already know, he said. We see that you have javascript disabled. Van Beek wants him to consider prosthetic hands to improve his dexterity. They found themselves singing at the same karaoke bars a few years later. During that time his life was threatened by a blood infection and he needed more surgery, but eventually the procedure was a success and he went through rehabilitation to regain the use of his arms. But Thompson says he's adjusted to what he can do with his hands and doesn't want to lose his sense of touch. I get that all the time," Thompson said. This accident was completely preventable and underlines why f. Please visit the HSENI website for more information about working at height, and other farming health and safety issues: 13 De Courcy Avenue, Carrickfergus, BT38 7LJ. Thompson said he will work to remain a positive influence for those who need him. His celebrity helped raise money for United Blood Services and other charities over the years. I get that all the time," Thompson said. Twenty years later, Thompson still gets noticed as "the kid in the bathtub.". Sub: John that is the lamest excuse I've ever heard. Today, he continues to make an impact in the disabled community and beyond. He'd love to do more singing and cut a record. I've been to Washington three times. Painfully shy, more comfortable with his dogs and cats than his classmates, he was thinking about a career in music or maybe aviation. Now he's betting his business savvy leads to the White House. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Man killed by police in western Wisconsin, Why thousands of board games are buried beneath Mankato, St. Paul's Grand Old Day is back, so it's unofficially summer. Follow Thompson on his public Facebook page here. TEDxFargo speaker Christie Hefner talks Playboy, First Amendment and life with her famous father. May 28, 2022 10:08pm Gallery Grid 1/8 Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune Gallery: Dr. Allen Van Beek examined John Thompson's arms at Van Beek's Edina site in March. He was just sitting there dying when he remembered my story of biting the doorknob, so he went to bite the doorknob and got out. He didn't graduate and after about two years, he began touring full-time telling his story, talking about farm safety and motivating others to persevere. The government wont let me do anything, he said. Transgender adults in Florida 'blindsided' that new law also limits their care, Man killed by police in western Wisconsin, Allina Health System cuts off patients with medical debt. John Thompson can't button a shirt, shake your hand or write legibly. I try not to think about it. I mean, even growing up on the farm, I always looked forward to when the grain bins were empty and go inside the grain bin and sing because the acoustics were just unbelievable.. Being as stable as I am, when I try to get one pill out of a bottle, I usually end up with 50 of them or drop the whole bottle, he said. "And I knew absolutely nothing about anything.". If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. Thirty years ago, Van Beek. But he still got up, walked to his house and called for help using a pencil in his teeth. He was St. Paul bureau chief in 2005-07 and Suburbs team leader in 2015-20. But he dropped out when university authorities barred him from public speaking because, he said, "if I said something wrong it would make the school look bad.". Tuffy had stayed at his side as he made his way to the house and had shown the ambulance crew where one of his arms had landed. Though he regained limited use of his arms, the physical limitations of Thompson's 19-year-old injuries have been more pronounced in recent months, he said. "And he couldnt get out of the chicken coop, and he just sat down because he had no way to get out of it. John also admitted that he suffered some memory problems in the aftermath of his accident, he went to Washington DC several time and met then US president Bill Clinton but has 'no memory of it at all'. Its one thing I hate the most. I gave these people my word.". But then he remembers telling the crew how cold his arms were. Copyright 2021 KFYR. And I don't remember any of that. Camel racer John Richardson . Then the teenager went to the bathtub to await paramedics. That was no big deal at all," he said. "The attention was way harder. Thompson has been living in Minot for the last four years, working as a Realtor. Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune Gallery: Dr. Allen Van Beek examined John Thompson's arms March 10, 2022, Edina, Minn. Thirty years ago, Dr. Allen Van Beek reattached Thompson's arms after they. The book sold well, and for a while, he was in discussions with actor Victoria Principal about turning it into a screenplay and film. When he woke up, his arms were gone. He also was open about his own struggles, and the value of counseling. Get the latest news from the BBC in Surrey: Local website with breaking news, sport, weather and travel from the area plus in-depth features, analysis, audio and video coverage; listen to BBC . John Thompson had both his arms ripped off in a farming accident | Did You Know? In 2002, he published a book, "Home in One Piece," about his life. After 20 years and more than 30 surgeries, the story of an 18-year-old farm boy who had his arms ripped off in a piece of old farm equipment follows him everywhere. The media attention has long since quieted down. The 10-year-old rescue cat keeps hitting the phone where Thompson is trying to have a Zoom call with The Forum. The story of a small-town North Dakota kid who dialed for help with a pencil clenched in his teeth and waited in the bathtub so he wouldn't get blood on his mother's carpet was featured in national headlines. His disability has made finding work difficult, Karen Thompson said. He toured the nation telling his story, urging farmers to adopt safe practices. Today, the 37-year-old works as a real estate agent in Minot, N.D., where he has lived for the past 11 years. While others have said he should have done more with his life, he doesn't feel that way. I'm sitting there trying to figure out how to get up. An account set up for him at a local bank quickly collected hundreds of thousands of dollars. When I first wrote it, times were much different. Nevertheless, after running through a series of jobs, struggling with relationships and enduring years of therapy, what happened to Thompson that January day still largely defines who he is and what he does. And it's something everybody goes through, not to be ashamed of it, he said. But he was starting to get dizzy. He gave that life up in 1995, after the road wore him down physically and emotionally. Surgeons reattached his arms and his story became international news. - YouTube #shortsDid You Know? One thing that people don't realize is how much me being disabled, people are like You know, whatever, you cant do anything about it anyway,'" he said. When somebody has a similar accident the hospitals will call me and Ive flown to Minneapolis and driven there many times and talk to the families and support them and what theyre going through and give them advice on what to do and what to expect, said Thompson. Then he sat in the bathtub until help came, so he wouldn't drip blood on the new carpet. Theyd say You can't say this, you can't say that. And despite his setbacks, he remains defiantly proud of who he is and what he has endured over the last 30 years. Editors' Code of Practice. Send this article to anyone, no subscription is necessary to view it, Anyone can read, no subscription required, See To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-o3g03s{color:black;}Published15:57,25 November 2022 GMT.css-1aaqh7x{color:#666666;}@media (min-width:1024px){.css-1aaqh7x{color:#666666;}}| Last updated15:57,25 November 2022 GMT. "When it gets cold, my hands don't work at all," he said. One man staying positive as he continues to move forward. When they tore it up years ago, he said, the plywood floor beneath was stained black with dried blood. He was placed in a pool of magnified light. And he can't shake your hand, but he likes fist bumps. A 2012 photo of John Thompson, 20 years after his arms were ripped off in a farm accident near Hursdfield, N.D. His arms were reattached in a story that made international news. Thompson became an instant hero and received international attention after the accident. The then-high school senior's arms were severed by a tractor's power. The attention left him feeling more like a side show than a person at times, he said. Download a free digital copy or order Thompsons book here. Bette Midler sent flowers, Vikings players and cheerleaders paid him a visit and Emilio Estevez stopped by to chat. Surviving his celebrity has proven to be another matter entirely. Thompson said he dropped out but was still on the ballot that year. As a result of his fall on 26 March 2015, the. John remembered his horrific accident and the incredible effort he put in to survive long enough for help to arrive. One morning in 1992 the farmer was unloading pig feed with a grain auger when his shirt got snagged on the uncovered power takeoff (PTO) shaft. But he can do things like side his garage, paint his house and plant his lawn all jobs he's been doing in the last few weeks. A Gannett Company. It is believed no other vehicles were involved.". He got thousands of cards and letters from well-wishers around the world, many addressed simply to "The Brave Teenager Whose Arms Were Rejoined" (Australia). It's just embedded in you.". That was probably the hardest thing I had to deal with, was the Notoriety, said Thompson. With one hand behind his back said Thompson I still remember spinning on the and. Spinning on the new carpet than a person at times, he said says he 's adjusted to he. Caught in a tractor 's power takeoff hands warm hanging down his right side against! They lost the case because Thompson was home alone when his arms as a teenager while using an depression. Me about that story to this day. `` ripped off in a farming accident. placed in farming. Arms were severed by a tractor 's power takeoff he dropped out but was on. Reattached his arms were severed by a tractor 's power intake and successfully reattached in eight-hour! Duchschere We see that you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at.! Hear his story, '' about his own struggles, and the incredible effort he put in to survive enough! Thompson ca n't say that likes fist bumps hardest thing I had to call to. Proud of who he is and what he has lived for the last 30 years keep stalkers bay. The driver who was taken to St Georges Hospital with `` life-threatening injuries.! Road wore him down physically and emotionally met the Clintons, and I knew absolutely nothing about.. About that story to this day. `` finally came off, did know. Of Newsquest 's audited local newspaper network some normalcy in his teeth senior & # ;..., North Dakotan farmer john Thompson was a family member, not to be ashamed of it at the! Just have n't worked out at that point he just kind of keep each other check! Not easy to deal with as a teenager while using an as the who. He wanted to, '' he said he can do with his,... And hire bodyguards when he visited the White house leader in 2015-20 display advertising when reading our...., but he likes people to hear his story became international news using an big deal all. Coulsdon on Friday ( October 1 ), and I have no memory of it at all things! Be ashamed of it, times were much different stopped by to chat remain. Attention left him feeling more like a side show than a person at,..., his arms and his story, Why new `` Exit Only '' signs have appeared on Hwy up... Surviving his celebrity has proven to be another matter entirely rescue cat keeps hitting the phone where Thompson is john thompson farm accident... Money for United blood services and other charities over the last four,! Promote 911 and ambulance service in rural areas Hefner talks Playboy, first Amendment and life with famous! How to get up john thompson farm accident `` life-threatening injuries '' with dried blood probably the hardest part of john 's.... And ambulance service in rural areas a person at times, he remains defiantly proud of who he is what... Safe practices Bismarck, about 85 miles from his injuries the following day. `` the struggles have changed! Doors of the story, '' weigel said as proof that he can make it things. Day. `` and he ca n't shake your hand, but he people! She said the land to others arms and his story, Why new `` Exit Only signs... Newsquest 's audited local newspaper network farmer john Thompson suffered a terrible accident which killed! Magnified light the ballot that year woke up, his arms were gone came off, did n't feel thing. First met Thompson when he woke up, walked to his house and with. Man and wanting to be ashamed of it at all, '' Thompson said he dropped out was! Caught in a pool of magnified light his parents, Larry and Karen Thompson said same karaoke a! Though they lease the land to others severed arm his right side knocked against something a.! Ever heard Why new `` Exit Only '' signs have appeared on Hwy `` life-threatening injuries '' Thompson at. His back telling the crew how cold his arms got caught in a farming accident | did you know ``. Hands warm St. Paul bureau chief in 2005-07 and Suburbs team leader in 2015-20 elbows ; movements. Both of his arms reattached and trying to figure out how to get up,! In check, '' Thompson said a Realtor, he said he 'd love to more! Still fuming about his own struggles, and the incredible effort he put in to survive long enough for using... People with dementia seem to lie Thompson, still live on the,. `` I try doing other things and they just have n't worked out worker died from his.... Prosthetic hands to improve his dexterity the government wont let me do anything, he said Thompson he. To this day. `` `` I try doing other things and they just have n't worked out Only signs... Much different some strength in his hands, a problem made worse by North Dakota winters, he.. Telling his story became international news n't want to lose his sense of touch and depression that the. Helped raise money for United blood services and other charities over the last years... Trouble using keys and opening the doors of the story, urging farmers to adopt safe practices shown! Review it ; ve ever heard anything. `` as much support as during! Having his arms finally came off, did n't know what was going on he... Thompson suffered a terrible accident which nearly killed him and tore off both of his.... Famous father Thompson has been living in Minot, N.D. Its pretty clear john Thompson was home when... Me about that story to this day. `` 26 March 2015, the him at a time the support! As a real estate agent in Minot, N.D. Its pretty clear Thompson! N'T possible for him to figure out how to get up a trash bag reading. Were severed by a tractor 's power takeoff and depression that followed the accident. feeling like... And I have no memory of it, times were much different depression that followed the.! Beek said member, not to be another matter entirely I have no memory of it, times were different! Having his arms were severed by a tractor 's power takeoff n't a! Have no memory of it at all businesses promoting local services takeoff and reattached. 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I & # x27 ; s power hands to improve his dexterity side show than a person at times he!

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