9 Badasses Who Performed Surgery On Themselves

1. Auto-Amputation - Aron Ralston

You'll probably be aware of Aron Ralston, unless you've been living under a rock (Eh? Eh?) as his particular venture into the world of auto-amputation was immortalised in the Danny Boyle movie 127 Hours.

In 2002, Ralston was canyoneering trip alone in Blue John Canyon when a boulder fell and trapped his arm. If you've seen the film, you know what happens - trapped for five days trying desperately to wriggle free, Ralston became increasingly weak and dehydrated. Whilst trying to chip away at the rock with his pocketknife, he accidentally slipped and cut his arm, from which gas began escaping due to the decomposition process.

At this point, there was nothing to lose (except a dead arm), as Ralston began moving from side to side, using torque to break his own bones, then cutting through meat, gristle and nerves with his knife.

After escaping his canyon prison, he then proceeded to rappel down a 65 foot cliff and make his way down the valley before being picked up by some shocked and presumably nauseated hikers.

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