In 1992, 18-year-old John Thompson suffered a devastating farm accident in North Dakota, USA, that resulted in both his arms being torn off. Working alone, his shirt became caught in a tractor's power shaft, dragging him in and severing his arms below the shoulders.
Despite his injuries, Thompson dragged himself about 100 yards to his house, using his mouth to open the door. Unable to dial the phone, he grabbed a pencil with his teeth to call his cousin. He then sat in a bathtub to prevent blood from staining the carpet until help arrived.
Air-lifted to hospital, Thompson underwent a six-hour operation to reattach his arms. Emergency staff were astonished he was still alive given the blood loss. During the flight, he even joked that his arms, packed in ice, felt cold.
He spent four weeks in a coma post-surgery, followed by more operations, intense rehabilitation and a battle against a serious blood infection. More than 30 years later, he recalls every detail: 'I woke up to my dog licking my face – and realised I’d lost both arms just below the shoulders.'
Today, Thompson can move his arms but his fists remain clenched unless manually opened. He declined prosthetic hands to preserve his sense of touch. His ordeal brought unwanted fame, including a White House visit and singing the national anthem at a baseball game. He has written a book, 'Home In One Piece', and campaigns for blood donation.
