A man who lost both of his arms in a horrific workplace accident has stunned doctors — and the world — after managing to call 911 using only a pencil held between his teeth. The incredible story, now making global headlines, has been described by emergency responders as “a miracle of survival, determination, and pure willpower.”
42-year-old construction worker Michael Jameson from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was operating a hydraulic machine when it malfunctioned, trapping his arms and severing both at the elbows. Alone on-site and losing blood rapidly, he somehow managed to crawl across the floor, locate his cellphone, and use a pencil to press the emergency call button with his mouth.
“When we picked up the call, we could barely understand him,” said 911 dispatcher Carla Rivera. “He was in shock, slurring his words, but we could hear him say, ‘My arms are gone. Please help.’ It was the most chilling thing I’ve ever heard in 15 years of work.”
A man in Oklahoma called 911 with a pencil held in his mouth after losing both his arms — doctors later reattached them in a 12-hour surgery. @PopBase
Emergency responders arrived within nine minutes, a timeframe doctors now say was the difference between life and death. “Every second counted,” said trauma surgeon Dr. Brian Kessler. “He had lost an enormous amount of blood, but the fact that he managed to call for help is nothing short of miraculous.”
Paramedics quickly located the severed limbs, preserved them in sterile saline and ice, and airlifted Jameson to Cleveland Clinic, where a 12-hour emergency reattachment surgery was performed by a team of seven specialists. “The damage was extreme,” said lead surgeon Dr. Priya Menon. “But his quick thinking — and the response time — made it possible to reattach both arms.”
Jameson’s story has since gone viral across X and Instagram, with millions expressing disbelief and admiration for his resilience. “He lost both arms and still saved his own life,” one post read. “That’s not just courage — that’s superhuman.”
“He called 911 with a pencil in his mouth after losing both arms — and lived.” @itvnews
Speaking from his hospital bed, Jameson described the moment everything went wrong. “I heard this crack — like metal snapping — and then I looked down and saw blood everywhere,” he told Daily Mail. “I knew I had seconds before I passed out. I just thought, ‘If I can make that call, I have a chance.’”
He said he spotted a pencil on a nearby desk, rolled onto his stomach, and dragged himself toward his phone. “I could barely move,” he said. “I held the pencil in my teeth and started tapping the screen. I didn’t even know if it was dialing — I just hoped someone would hear me.”
When rescuers arrived, Jameson had gone into hypovolemic shock but was still conscious enough to give them the code to the building’s security gate. “The fact that he stayed awake through that is almost impossible,” said paramedic Scott Walker. “He was fading fast. We kept him talking just to keep his heart rate up.”
Doctors say the reattachment surgery was one of the most complex ever performed in the U.S. “We had to reconstruct major blood vessels, bone, and muscle before reconnecting the nerves,” said Dr. Menon. “There was no room for error. We knew we were racing against time.”
Incredibly, within three weeks, Jameson began regaining partial sensation in his right hand. His surgeons estimate that with therapy, he could recover up to 80% mobility over the next two years. “He’s defying every expectation,” said his physiotherapist in an interview with HuffPost. “His determination is something we rarely see.”
“Doctors say the patient could regain up to 80% mobility in both arms after calling 911 with a pencil.” @guardian
Photos shared by hospital staff show Jameson smiling weakly, surrounded by nurses holding up handwritten signs reading “OUR HERO.” A GoFundMe campaign set up by coworkers has already surpassed $500,000, with donors from around the world sending messages of support. “You’re proof that the human spirit can’t be broken,” one supporter wrote.
Authorities later confirmed that the malfunctioning machine was part of an older industrial model that had been flagged for safety violations last year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has since launched an investigation into whether negligence played a role. “We’re looking into maintenance records and employee training logs,” an OSHA spokesperson told CBS News. “This tragedy was preventable.”
When asked if he blames his employer, Jameson shook his head. “I just want to move forward,” he said. “I’ve been given a second chance — two, actually.” His words have been shared widely, inspiring thousands who see his story as a symbol of courage and perseverance.
“I’ve been given a second chance — two, actually.” — Survivor who lost and regained both arms after freak accident. @BBCWorld
Experts say his recovery will take years of physical therapy, nerve stimulation, and specialized rehabilitation. “He’s got a mountain ahead of him,” said Washington Post medical columnist Dr. Evan Bell. “But if anyone can climb it, it’s him.”
For now, Jameson remains focused on one goal: holding his young daughter again. “She’s been my reason since the moment it happened,” he told reporters. “When I opened my eyes after surgery and realized my arms were still there — I just cried. I knew I’d get to hug her again someday.”
In a world often overwhelmed by despairing headlines, his story has become a rare moment of collective awe. “He didn’t just survive,” one paramedic said. “He rewrote the limits of what’s humanly possible.”
