Compressed Air Accident Turns NZ Man Into Human Balloon
- Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:16am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (The Blaze/AP) — A New Zealand truck driver said he blew up like a balloon when he fell onto the fitting of a compressed air hose that pierced his buttock and forced air into his body at 100 pounds a square inch.
Steven McCormack was standing on his truck’s foot plate Saturday when he slipped and fell, breaking a compressed air hose off an air reservoir that powered the truck’s brakes.
He fell hard onto the brass fitting, which pierced his left buttock and started pumping air into his body.
“I felt the air rush into my body and I felt like it was going to explode from my foot,” he told local media from his hospital bed in the town of Whakatane, on North Island’s east coast.
“I was blowing up like a football,” he said. “I had no choice but just to lay there, blowing up like a balloon.”
McCormack’s workmates heard his screams and ran to him, quickly releasing a safety valve to stop the air flow, said Robbie Petersen, co-owner of the trucking company.
He was rushed to the hospital with terrible swelling and fluid in one lung. Doctors said the air had separated fat from muscle in McCormack’s body, but had not entered his bloodstream.
McCormack, 48, said his skin felt “like a pork roast” — crackling on the outside but soft underneath.
You can watch an interview with McCormack here.
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Comments (66)
Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 12:42pmNow there’s a real pain in the azzz everyone can do without in this lifetime.. ;)
At least he’s alright, and not full of shiite after all huh? lol
Report Post »trueblueday
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 12:19pmNever ever have I heard of such a thing happening! Wow! and Ow!
Report Post »BubbaT
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 12:17pmI’ve heard of getting smoke blown up your butt but this is ridiculous!
Report Post »sjohn70037
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 11:51amDude, when one speaks of a “********” what is meant is…
Report Post »Gold Nugget
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 11:41amI saw that happen on a James Bond Movie.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 11:40amOh, the humanity…
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:42amCould have killed him. He was lucky. I remember my dad comming home, all shook up, from the garage where he worked when I was a kid. It seemed one of the young guys on the crew goosed a co-worker with a compressed air hose for a joke and killed him accidentally.
Report Post »Ken
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:14amWay too early for the Macy’s parade.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:05amOk I know, I know but LOL..glad he is alive but dang that’s weird and funny.
Report Post »your huckleberry
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:05amInteresting story, but completely overblown…
Report Post »vtxphantom
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:57amOn the lighter side(pun intended), he could pick up a part time job filling ballons for kids at birthday parties. The guy is lucky no organs were damaged.
Report Post »momof200
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:57amFat separated from muscle? Do I see a new weight loss procedure in the future?
Report Post »Cabo King
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:44amgives new meaning to baloon boy
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:26amI bet that was awfully painful.
Report Post »Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:19amThis also happen to Michael Moore. He look like the goodyears blimp.
Report Post »missy8s
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:50amDude…
That really blows…
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:48amBoy Trapped in Refrigerator Eats Own Foot
Report Post »smak
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:56amWhy?
Report Post »proliance
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:45amWith all that hot air in him he should run for Congress.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:43amI told you inflation was coming.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:52am^^^^^^ now THATS funny ^^^^^^^
Report Post »larman
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:40amYou only see that happen in cartoons. Glad he is ok.
Report Post »http://www.larryfalco.com
Darla_K
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:27amOMG, what a very unlucky day for this guy. Hope he gets to feeling good soon.
Report Post »midcoastmainepatriot
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:26amDamn I’m first and I got nothin!!!!
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:30amA reverse fart?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:45am@Sregn:
Reverse fart? I know a trio of progressives I wish it could happen to; might improve their disposition.
Report Post »enemy of the statist
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:26amWell, when are they going to let the air out?
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:17amFarts….
Report Post »enemy of the statist
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:17amAnd why does he have tan marks suggesting that he suns with a bikini top?
Report Post »I think this may have been no accident.
starman70
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:21amWhen he runs for political office.
Report Post »smak
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:23amOk.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 12:38pmWe can all relate to this story :)
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:23amOmg…..
Report Post »(required lower case)
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:31amWow, when I first read it, I misunderstood that it pierced his buttock. I thought it went into an orifice and inflated him. Talk about a case of gas.
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:33amIt was a million to one shot Doc, a million to one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuk0tLj-I4
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:37amGlad he is alive, and I now have to wonder how does this get listed for his insurance company?
Cause of accident…compressed air filled man from his tushie (no beans involved).
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 8:38amMan, it‘s really difficult on what to say about this except that it’s great that he’s doing okay. Since he is okay I can be lighthearted and ask: Does anyone want a blowup doll?
Report Post »barak hussein osama arafat
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:09amI can‘t but help thinking that air nozzle found it’s way into his anus on purpose.
Report Post »Maybe it’s because those dam gays are in our face night and day.
Dustyluv
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:16amMcCormack, 48, said his skin felt “like a pork roast”
I guess he isnt a muslim…
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:16amjust plain ouch.
Report Post »thebarbarian
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:18am@ GodsAmerica
that was wrong on so many levels, tisted and ugggg. Still funny .
he’s lucky to be alive. first impression was a gut penetration and was thinking of the worst. but it‘s good to know he’ll make a full recovery.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:00amThis was not God’s wrath because of obummer.
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:13amStick a fork in him, he’s done………
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 10:41am@enemy of the statist
Report Post »If you look at his arm, I think it is called “light coming through the window” not suntan lines.:-)
Susan Harkins
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 11:55amMy sister-in-law had a similar accident, but she fell onto a couch, with her TV remote, and strangled on a year’s supply of pork skins and jelly beans.
They had to knock out one side of the house, just to get the forklift in!
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 12:39pmDont look like hes totally deflated yet
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 4:00pmI used to work in an ER and believe me lots of people come in with things stuck in their orifices claiming they “fell on them” but this is the first case where that may have really happened. This is usually a fatal accident and he’s very lucky to be alive. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Report Post »Airb0rne4325
Posted on May 25, 2011 at 9:21pmLooks like he dropped a lung so the air was on it’s way out, just not the preferred way. He looks fine should have a speedy recovery.
Report Post »GuitarGod
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 1:25amOMG is right … the poor guy. Hope he’s OK now.
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