The human balloon

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Mail

The human balloon: Truck driver survives being INFLATED after air brakes tube pierced his bottom

In what is one of the freakiest accidents ever recorded, a New Zealand lorry driver expanded like a puffed-up balloon when he fell bottom-first on to a compressed air tube.

The end of the tube pierced the flesh of his left buttock, forcing compressed air at the rate of 100 pounds per square inch into his body, swelling it to bursting point.

'I felt like I was going to explode from my foot upwards,' said 48-year-old Steven McCormack who is recovering in the intensive care unit of Whakatane Hospital.

'They've told me I'm lucky to be alive after blowing up like a balloon.'

Mr McCormack, from the Bay of Plenty area, recalled how he was standing on a metal plate between the cabin of his lorry and a semi-trailer at his company's workshop.

He lost his footing and as he fell he broke the hose off a brass nipple connected to the compressed air reservoir powering the lorry's brakes.

He fell hard on to the nipple, which was gushing out air, piercing the flesh of his buttock.

'I was blowing up like a football,' he said. 'It felt like I had the bends, like in diving. I had no choice but just to lay there, blowing up like a balloon.'

Mr McCormack's workmates came rushing to his aid when they heard his screams.

Company co-owner Robbie Petersen, one of the first to arrive heard the roar of air rushing into Mr McCormack's body and quickly released a safety valve to stop the air flow.

One of his workmates, Jason Wenham, placed the inflated man on to his side in the recovery position, a move that is thought to have saved his life because it helped him to breathe.

Mr McCormack's head and neck were swollen and one lung was filling with fluid, but the workmen managed to ease the swelling by packing ice around his neck.

Later, after hospital doctors had inserted a tube into his lungs to drain the fluid and cleared the wound in his buttocks, Mr McCormack said his skin felt like 'a pork roast' - crackling on the outside but soft underneath.

Mr Petersen said it was 'a million-to-one' freak accident.

Truck driver survives being INFLATED after air brakes tube pierced his bottom | Mail Online

[Eric Perry]

No pictures, no balloon-boy!

[MJ5150]

Something like this happened to my aunt when she was recovering form surgery a few years ago. I don't remember all the details, but I think it was the nursing staff left the oxygen mask pressure too high for too long. When we went in to see her the next morning, she looked like she was about to pop. It was scary.

-Mike

[tastybasslines]

If he had fallen right on his chocolate starfish, he probably would have died.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

If he had fallen right on his chocolate starfish, he probably would have died.

A coworker sent me this article earlier and when I saw this part:

In what is one of the freakiest accidents ever recorded, a New Zealand lorry driver expanded like a puffed-up balloon when he fell bottom-first on to a compressed air tube.

I figured it was some sort of improper behavior gone awry, but as I read on it was apparent it was an accident and the headline very sensationalized. Still a very crazy story and the dude is lucky to be alive, but man, they knew how to sell that one.

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

A coworker sent me this article earlier and when I saw this part:



I figured it was some sort of improper behavior gone awry, but as I read on it was apparent it was an accident and the headline very sensationalized. Still a very crazy story and the dude is lucky to be alive, but man, they knew how to sell that one.

EXACTLY, they make it sound like the tube went right up his arse.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

No pictures, no balloon-boy!

I find it mighty funny that you're the first one to respond to an anal cavity accident thread, being your past spelunking activities with Lemmiwinks the gerbil.

[dave64o]

"I had no choice but just to lay there, blowing up like a balloon."

Why was pulling the damn thing out to stop the immediate danger not an option? Was he afraid he was going to fly all around the place like a balloon would after you blow it up and let it go without tying the knot?

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by dave64o

"I had no choice but just to lay there, blowing up like a balloon."

Why was pulling the damn thing out to stop the immediate danger not an option? Was he afraid he was going to fly all around the place like a balloon would after you blow it up and let it go without tying the knot?

[MatticusMania]

I think this is really just a case of bad gas that he's trying to cover up.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by dave64o

"I had no choice but just to lay there, blowing up like a balloon."

Why was pulling the damn thing out to stop the immediate danger not an option?

All kidding aside, a deep thigh injury could have pierced or damaged his femoral artery and pulling the nozzle out quickly could have done just as much damage, if not more.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

All kidding aside, a deep thigh injury could have pierced or damaged his femoral artery and pulling the nozzle out quickly could have done just as much damage, if not more.

I dunno, it that thing opened or nicked his femoral artery, I think he would have been dead with all the air being forced into his body. If anything went into a vein, he'd be kaput in a hurry. Though I guess it could be nicked when removing it...

Think of the bright side though - this guy probably hands down won the award for international farting champion.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Wow! Just how many different ways can I cringe when I read something?

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by Relic

Think of the bright side though - this guy probably hands down won the award for international farting champion.

I don't see how that can be. You need pressure to create deep bass and good sound from your farts. An extra hole would relieve the pressure needed to belt em out.

[Jimbob Jones]

It's incredible that his body cavity filled with however many litres of air, and none got into his circulatory system.

People will smirk every time he passes gas for the rest of his life now...

[Skitch it!]

YouTube - ‪James Bond vs Dr. Kananga‬‏

[Relic]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I don't see how that can be. You need pressure to create deep bass and good sound from your farts. An extra hole would relieve the pressure needed to belt em out.

nah, you'd just have an octave effect between both orifaceseses singing wonderfully

[sneha1965]

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

No pictures, no balloon-boy!

[Jay Ralston]

For some reason this Seinfeld episode came to mind.

YouTube - ‪Seinfeld - Million to One Shot Doc‬‏