Middletown, Ohio - James Cockerham credits two things with his survival — God and a pocket knife.
The 83-year-old man was pinned underneath a flipped tractor for four hours, but managed to dig his way free with a pocket knife he keeps in his pocket.
"I was laying right under that seat and that seat had me right here," he said, indicating a spot right below his rib cage. "I said 'Lord don't let me die under this tractor.' If I had been a big man with a big chest, that seat would have crushed me to death."
Before he could begin digging, Cockerham had to labor for more than an hour to free his right leg, which was trapped above the tractor's wheel axel.
Cockerham spent the next two and a half hours digging — an idea that came to him after remembering how trapped raccoons would try to dig themselves free.
I just kept scooting until I scooted out of there. I took four hours to get out of there and they were rough hours."
Once free, Cockerham stopped to put back on his clothes, which he'd removed to aid his escape. Then he walked about 150 yards to his home, called his daughter and then 911.
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Full Version: Fiesty 83-yo digs himself from under tractor
That is incredible! He must be very strong and healthy to get through that ordeal at his age! I,m glad he made it and hope he,ll be alright! 
QUOTE(owlscrying @ Sep 13 2007, 05:15 PM) 
Middletown, Ohio - James Cockerham credits two things with his survival — God and a pocket knife.
The 83-year-old man was pinned underneath a flipped tractor for four hours, but managed to dig his way free with a pocket knife he keeps in his pocket.
"I was laying right under that seat and that seat had me right here," he said, indicating a spot right below his rib cage. "I said 'Lord don't let me die under this tractor.' If I had been a big man with a big chest, that seat would have crushed me to death."
Before he could begin digging, Cockerham had to labor for more than an hour to free his right leg, which was trapped above the tractor's wheel axel.
Cockerham spent the next two and a half hours digging — an idea that came to him after remembering how trapped raccoons would try to dig themselves free.
I just kept scooting until I scooted out of there. I took four hours to get out of there and they were rough hours."
Once free, Cockerham stopped to put back on his clothes, which he'd removed to aid his escape. Then he walked about 150 yards to his home, called his daughter and then 911.
go
The 83-year-old man was pinned underneath a flipped tractor for four hours, but managed to dig his way free with a pocket knife he keeps in his pocket.
"I was laying right under that seat and that seat had me right here," he said, indicating a spot right below his rib cage. "I said 'Lord don't let me die under this tractor.' If I had been a big man with a big chest, that seat would have crushed me to death."
Before he could begin digging, Cockerham had to labor for more than an hour to free his right leg, which was trapped above the tractor's wheel axel.
Cockerham spent the next two and a half hours digging — an idea that came to him after remembering how trapped raccoons would try to dig themselves free.
I just kept scooting until I scooted out of there. I took four hours to get out of there and they were rough hours."
Once free, Cockerham stopped to put back on his clothes, which he'd removed to aid his escape. Then he walked about 150 yards to his home, called his daughter and then 911.
go
lucky he knew about the racoons otherwise he might still be there.
Maaaaaaaaaan that guy's lucky!
*Grins* Hope his daughter raced over there to give him a big hug
*Grins* Hope his daughter raced over there to give him a big hug
Wow, good for him to remember survival....I tell ya, these older people lately, have been making the news with their feisty ways...
Whoa......good for him, keeping his cool that resulted in his survival.
That was some quick thinking... very resourceful.
note to self don't mess with the old people, especially ones with pocket knives
Talk about resillient!
I am glad he escaped, good on him
I am glad he escaped, good on him
sounds very McGyver (sp?) like to me... good job!!
fiesty is not a strong enough word for him. could you imagine doin that yourself?
they don't make them like that no more.
they don't make them like that no more.
That's amazing - good for him, I hope he lives to 101.
Thats SO gonna be me when Im an old woman.
Diggin mah way out from under them thar tractors.
Diggin mah way out from under them thar tractors.
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