Ask Adam Savage: "How I Broke My Neck"

Tested member Rich L asked, "When you told the story about the sign you 'retrieved' from the closed gymnasium, you mentioned falling off the water tower and breaking your neck. Did we hear that correctly? The story please!" Here's the story, Rich; thank you for the question and your support. Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks, like asking Adam a question:
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[@CitizenSnips69]

Early to an Adam savage video. Um, hi! I appreciate the video, have a nice day friend!

[@rioncitylife1917]

hi Adam, " cool story, glade to see your ok ", :)

[@Sam-bd3qr]

Still asking you to review the book "Where did the towers go?" By Dr. Judy Wood

[@rioncitylife1917]

@@Sam-bd3qr probaly going to be hard for adam to find time to read a book

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

Man that is a savage story Adam - no pun intended. You are one lucky SOB.

[@pileofstuff]

Adam's next t-shirt: "I *am* a cautionary tale"

[@TomOConnor-BlobOpera]

There was one in the early days of mythbusters that said "I do all my own stunts" - I actually had one of those t-shirts. Wish I knew where it was.

[@karenreardon1372]

Made this into a T-shirt for my brother-in-law, a superfan of Mythbusters

[@DaveDexterMusic]

This reminds me of one of Richard Ayoade's introductions to Travel Man: "I, the living warning that is Richard Ayoade."

[@iout]

Adam was so lucky. Turning his head to test for injuries alone could have ended very poorly.

[@EldeNova]

he wasn't alone he was with his friends I'll see myself out

[@aidandixon6028]

Really?

[@daleharden1749]

@@aidandixon6028 Yeah, that's why one of the first priorities of EMS workers when they arrive on scene with a possible neck injury is to stabilize the victim's cervical spine (neck). Any lateral movement in that area can cause spinal cord damage.

[@Xenite227]

Dove head first into a rock.... I can just hear Jamie Hyneman going "Well that explains a lot..." lol jk

[@coreyennis9411]

"there's your problem."

[@edrcozonoking]

Did you wiggle your fingers in front of your mouth when you said that?

[@pvic6959]

I didnt know if I should laugh or cry this entire video. laugh - because its a ridiculous story and in the end everything worked out well and adam is safe and healthy and able to tell the story. cry - because he was _this close_ to not being safe and healthy and able to tell the story

[@Sei783]

You know, that was my first thought XD

[@ethenallen1388]

Jamie would definitely agree that Adam has a hard head.

[@murrayboyton8779]

Sounds like a lot of Adam's variants pruned themselves.

[@christianterrill3503]

Is there a crocodile version of adam somewhere on the time line? Frog adam?

[@jacquelynnmartin]

I wonder if there was a Jamie variant that wanted to play 'Get Help'.

[@TonySmith-ni7bg]

Definitely a walrus version somewhere

[@tpalda]

Pruned means they went to just before the end of time technically

[@PhoeniXCh1]

I laughed probably too much because of this

[@farmjunk]

That's one of those stories that someone tells you and all you can think is to double check that that are, in fact, alive because everything you just heard suggests they should not be.

[@MuscarV2]

"that that are, in fact, alive"

[@ryankohnenkamp8946]

Wow. We were that close to not getting Mythbusters. That's crazy

[@clockworkNate]

We still would've gotten it .... just some crappy youtube version where the people doing it are constantly wearing goggles lol. So close call for sure.

[@KennyPagley]

We almost lost a good person that day

[@kingjames4886]

not like mythbusters was adams idea..

[@Gureiseion]

In an alternate universe it'd have been Jamie and Bob Sagot. 😶

[@Berkeloid0]

Makes you wonder what other interesting people and shows we've lost from all the other accidents that didn't end quite so well...

[@johnsykesiii1629]

My mother worked for a surgeon in NJ who was instrumental in changing how patients with neck injuries, especially from diving accidents, like yours, were treated, His name was Richard W. Rado, MD FACS and he published articles and even produced films on this in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was instrumental in getting EMTs equipped with cervical collars to immobilize the neck after all sorts of accidents. He was Jewish, but always showed up with the best darn Christmas presents for me and my 2 brothers Christmas morning.

[@Heizenberg32]

Sounds like a cool guy all-around!

[@WaynesWorld69]

Can anyone on earth ever imagine what it'd be like being Adam's mum? She's clearly an absolutely amazing lady lol

[@Alia-bc3rc]

Dove eight feet head straight to a rock, broke neck, wake up, wrap towel, climb fences. ..I'm pretty sure Adam is secretly a Resident Evil character.

[@JH_CAPS]

Just pour some magic fluid on it and you will be fine

[@ojonasar]

Douglas Adams was right, towels really are useful.

[@jeffreysmith236]

@@ojonasar yes. And so is not panicking.

[@jxalmada66]

HE IS MOLDED!

[@Fucisko]

Better eat some green herb.

[@spidersj12]

This literally is a former Mythbuster's "Do not try this at home" moment...

[@pouncepounce7417]

He did not do it at home, so rather "Do that nowhere"

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

@@pouncepounce7417 More like "Don't Do This *ANYWHERE!"* 💀

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

@Freerefill The Dr must have been really restraining himself from having a full go at Adam for that stunt. But I can understand why, as an ER Dr he must have seen so many young men. With similar injuries caused by the terrain around that lighthouse. Young men have a built in philosophy of *'All men are mortals - except for me!'* 💀

[@carmenclemons2556]

@Freerefill Five bucks says that doctor was a parent himself.

[@pouncepounce7417]

@@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980 Actual it is an age related thing, woman are the same, just way more subtle about the firm belief in immortality, they tend to make risky decisions too just not at the immediate life ending spectrum.

[@jennymckenzie5304]

"and then... she faints." *Clap* That delivery was so hilarious that I just burst out laughing dear lord.

[@PhiloYT1]

In addition to his many other talents, Adam is a great storyteller!

[@MartialLoreNZ]

"We didn't call an ambulance --- this was the 80s, man!" So true, so true....

[@FUBARguy107]

Could have been 2 weeks ago... considering the average cost here where I live is like $5000...

[@AlexOlsenpang]

@madmanaz what do you mean by average cost? For ambulance or treatment????

[@JeskidoYT]

@@AlexOlsenpang ambulance

[@MrPossumeyes]

@@FUBARguy107 WOW! WOW MAJORLY! I'm in NZ, have had 3 ambulance rides - cost me $95 a pop for a 10 minute ride (no siren though :( ). The St John ambulance service is great (so are the people) and it's paid for (damn near entirely!) through our taxes. No complaints from me. And I guess the ambulance fee is just the initial cost for emergency medical care. It must be hell for the uninsured in the US 😥

[@EdBruceWRX]

@@MrPossumeyes had an incident a few years ago and ride to ER was over $500. What really sucks is some of or EMTs don't even get health insurance.

[@gl15col]

And yet you slid down that super-long slide and 70 feet into the water for Mythbusters; that took guts man.

[@wanderersnightmare8745]

My friend's dad accidentally cut off some of his fingers with a table saw a few years ago. My friend drove his dad all the way to the hospital and same thing, as soon as his dad was safe and being taken care of he fainted. Everything turned out fine and his dad was able to get his fingers reattached with almost no lasting damage. Thanks for the story Adam, glad you lucked out!

[@paulcharters5933]

This explains Adam's obsession with helmets!

[@moultriemanicmechani]

I was hit on a bike as an adult and broke my back, thank God for helmets

[@edrcozonoking]

Helmets are awesome but they would not prevent this type of injury.

[@patheddles4004]

(to be clear btw, I'm a huge fan of helmets in general)

[@CraftMine1000]

@@edrcozonoking if the helmet has any crumple zones at all it will actually improve chances by spreading the force over time, which is basically all helmets including all value helmets in today's world, What you said may have been true in the 60s, but definitely not today

[@barfeedbob]

Adam, please call your mom and apologize, again! LOL!

[@missz9241]

hope u have a really good gift on mother's day after that. lol

[@coreyennis9411]

For that and for taking all the credit for sorting the Lego.*angry sorting noises

[@lapelcelery42]

I don't know if she can take seeing his name come up on her phone again. All of Adams stories have "Mom, I had an accident."

[@FiXato]

@@lapelcelery42 his more recent band saw accident comes to mind. ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5Kqn6yXh5d1bdU

[@lapelcelery42]

@@FiXato Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking of!

[@Ontheroad13]

Worked as a FF/EMT for 10 years and have seen a handful of spinal compression injuries. I’ve only seen 1 person live and their quality of life was borderline vegetative. You are incredibly lucky! Thanks for the videos!

[@kitghost1]

Is that specific to head hits? Because about 4 years ago I had a 25 foot fall where I broke my heel and had compression fractures in my lower vertibrea (I think L1-L5) and am now (other than a sore back when I lift heavy stuff) completely fine.

[@cathyn7640]

A story from my Mom's days as a court reporter: A case in which a young man dived much as Adam did, but it didn't end so well. He was alive, but terribly injured, I think quadriplegic. He was suing someone or other for his accident; I suppose this party held some percentage of responsibility for it. What Mom was regaling me with afterward was the dreadful closing argument the defense attorney was making, in which he repeatedly used the legal terminology "will not recover", meaning "not get any money", over and over. "If plaintiff did this and that, blahblahblah, he will not recover", but all it did was drive home to the jury the fact that this young man was not going to get better. Big award given to the injured kid. Big.

[@backpacker3421]

"I am a cautionary tale" would make a great sticker/patch for the Savage Industries store, Just sayin'

[@backpacker3421]

Can I get a Teeshirt? I would TOTALLY buy that shirt!!!

[@Riley_Mundt]

I don't know why, but I read this in Rod Serling's voice.

[@mikewebink]

My cousin was body surfing at the Jersey shore, he’s 47 today, but at 14 he broke his neck on a sand bar. He’s been a quadriplegic ever since. If the same injury happened today, he would be walking, but back then, they fused his spine. He’s doing great now though, 2 kids, a great job, and is a motivational speaker on top of everything. You’re lucky Adam.

[@leglessinoz]

You can't know if he'd be walking today. To some degree it's the luck of the draw but a complete injury is what it is.

[@mikewebink]

@@leglessinoz actually a friend of mine, who’s dad was actually friends with my cousin’s dad, was body surfing and got flipped snd hit the ground and broke the same bones in his neck. Due to swelling, he was paralyzed at the time. My friends dad called my uncle and asked him where he should go to get surgery on it. When they brought him in to the hospital, instead of fusing the bones, which was common practice in the 80’s, the went in and took out all the bone chips, and were able to microscopically shave the bone down. After the swelling and a ton of physical therapy, my friend is walking now. But of course, who knows if it was the exact same break, or the same amount of force to break the vertebrae, but I was told the breaks were almost identical and my cousin has been paralyzed since 1982, and my friend is walking, and even wrestling again.

[@andyz4203]

I think I’ve seen your brother, I think he came to my school I’m flagstaff at.

[@leglessinoz]

@@mikewebink different people will have different outcomes. There are many factors; the amount of force, the angle of the impact, how elastic someone's spinal cord is, whether the cord is severed or not. When they say people have "almost identical injuries", it usually refers to the situation under which the injury occurred and where on the body it occurred. Whether a person's injury is "complete" or "incomplete" plays a big part. There is more chance that an incomplete C6 quad will walk than a complete C6 quad. In the old days a more definite prognosis could not be formed until "spinal shock" had subsided. This could take up to 2 years. Now we have MRI which can highlight the damage much better. Doctors tend to say that a person may never walk again rather he won't walk again because there are always those who for one reason or another defy the odds.

[@skezus]

"We never stole anything.." -- Adam Savage sitting below the "no changing" sign he stole.

[@Verlisify]

Its weird what people can survive. I slipped off a seawall and fell 7ft onto a rusty pipe and landed on my throat when I was 16. No physical damage, but I ended up getting untreated tetanus since this was during a multi day school camping field trip and I didn't want to get in trouble. I was just sick in bed with minimal medical supplies thinking I had the flu

[@alex0589]

Jesus christ

[@petitio_principii]

@RedKing ironically one can have an accident, not have any fracture, and then end up having a fracture from tetanus.

[@ethelredhardrede1838]

How does anyone survive tetanus without treatment? Its not remotely like flu. Medscape "The case-fatality ratio in the United States was 91% in 1947, [10] 21-31% from 1982 to 1990, 11% from 1995 to 1997, and 18% from 1998 to 2000. Current statistics indicate that mortality in mild and moderate tetanus is approximately 6%; for severe tetanus, it may be as high as 60%. Mortality in the United States resulting from generalized tetanus is 30% overall, 52% in patients older than 60 years, and 13% in patients younger than 60 years. Mortality is substantially higher for people older than 60 years (40%) than for those aged 20-59 years (8%). From 1998 to 2000, 75% of the deaths in the United States were in patients older than 60 years. [10] In addition, mortality is notably higher for people who require mechanical ventilation (30%) than for those who do not (4%)." I am going to guess is that you had tetanus shots and were at least partly resistant as that 1947 death rate would otherwise apply.

[@Verlisify]

@@ethelredhardrede1838 For a 17 year old the death rate is under 10% and thats ignoring other factors. I was a healthy, active, kid with a strong immune system. Odds were pretty good

[@ethelredhardrede1838]

@@Verlisify I think the key was per-adapted immune system due to tetanus shots.

[@MikeOrkid]

You can tell that Adam is painfully reliving this story word by word. The more he tells, the more pain returns. We all have that one story like this that just hurts to tell.

[@DeosPraetorian]

I don't have one of those stories

[@davidp2888]

This whole story makes me wince, and not in a timid way. Glad you’re still here, Adam.

[@navret1707]

Ah, the ages when we were completely bulletproof. . . . We thought at the time. I can relate to the parent thing. My crew and I were flying a patrol scheduled to recover in a “not home base” destination. When we landed the duty officer came out and meet the aircraft and told me my wife had called the “home base” duty office and said our son had fallen off one of those very tall slides and was in the hospital. Here I am several thousand miles from home and my son is injured. Set panic condition one. My crew was ready to turn right around and fly me home if that was necessary. No crew rest. Called home and, fortunately, by then it was determined that it was not a life-threatening situation. Being a parent is not always what it is cracked up to be.

[@gaojen3365]

Agreed! Being one with a story of my own, when I tell it... I am still caught off guard just how few people have these stories. and are able to commiserate.

[@jeffreysmith236]

Wow. I fell off one of those slides, tried to run down it. When I regained consciousness, was surrounded by older kids checking me out. Just had an S curve in my left arm. Lucky I was just 6 years old.

[@MrGhosta5]

You have an amazing crew. Not a lot of people i know would have offered to do the same.

[@bishbosch9858]

When you said you went to turn your head i audibly said to the no one around me “no the fuck you didnt!” 😂😂

[@melissaquinn1463]

Never have I appreciated my nervousness around swimming and diving more than this moment. Wow! So glad you made it without serious injury. Too many life changing events start with the fateful phrase “Hey! Watch this!”

[@jeff1176]

Dude just listening to this is making me queezy.

[@drfrankensteinscreations]

Right? I haven't heard anything that did that in a long time.

[@AndreAlforque]

Yes. So many different levels to Adam’s story hits viscerally.

[@Fucisko]

I've had my fair share of dumb injuries, to the point where I sometimes wonder how I survived my childhood, but still as he kept talking I kept getting more and more uncomfortable, I felt sick.

[@FiXato]

especially that halo brace explanation made my stomach turn....

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

Man that is a savage story Adam - no pun intended. You are one lucky SOB.

[@KerboOnYT]

"This was the 80's we didn't call an ambulance" So true, I'm a fellow survivor of growing up in the 80's 😁

[@annwagner5779]

My brother and I grew up in the 60s and 70s. When my brother knocked a wing off a vertebra at about that same age, he kept working on the job site where it happened (he fell off a truck.) It was that night before he mentioned to Mother that it hurt. She took him off to the hospital immediately. If my brother says it hurts, it’s serious. Like Adam, he is so amazingly lucky to be fine at the end of it. Gosh, moms have hard jobs!

[@86billionneurons]

My dad would have broke my neck for breaking my neck. 😂

[@JosephDavies]

Ah yes, the "if you survive this, I'm gonna kill you!" reaction. :p

[@alex0589]

Great dad

[@86billionneurons]

@@alex0589 The best

[@AcmeRacing]

This reminds me of a Buster Keaton story. In _The General_ he did a stunt where he pulled the spout from a railroad water tower down and got hit with the water full force. It slammed him down and broke his neck against the rails, but he got up and finished shooting in spite of the headache. He only found out years later that he'd broken his neck when he had an x-ray for something else. It's a miracle he wasn't paralyzed or killed.

[@joshp3994]

"I reject your predicted outcome and substitute my own!"

[@brentbundy9780]

Adam, I was told growing up, if you break your neck, you probably will not survive. How incredibly lucky you are and very fortunately for the world we all are your still here. January 97 on my way to work, had a head on car crash and broke my neck. Seven strokes out of coma and had to re-learn to walk, talk and eat. Now on east coast of Australia bicycling for breast cancer after crossing from Oregon ( Home State ) to New York six times. Very fortunate to have the knowledge from Jamie and yourself to get my this far. Sincerely yours, Brent Bundy Ridegump

[@imnotgivingmyname2389]

As someone who was once a lifeguard, this sort of injury is the nightmare scenario that we all train for, but hope never happens. A broken neck is such a delicate scenario that lifeguards regularly practice how to extract a drowning patient from the water while ensuring their neck is completely still. I still remember during practice struggling to stabilize the neck of a 250lb man who was pretending to drown in 10 ft of water, all while being yelled at by our head lifeguard whenever the man's neck moved even a fraction of an inch. Then hauling him out of the water and getting him strapped into a neck brace ASAP. It boggles the mind that you stood up, turned your head back and forth, used a TOWEL to stabilize yourself, and then climbed over 2 fences and walked 6 blocks without any lasting injury. It was drilled into our heads that the slightest movement of the neck would turn our rescue into a quadriplegic.

[@mattshaffer5935]

Oh man. My Dad had a very prominent dent on the very top of his head from just such an accident! Your story sure takes me back. I surely miss that bald headed beak nosed bastard! Thanks for the great cautionary tale and for all you do Mr. Savage!

[@tonyk421]

Happy Birthday, glad your still with us. Should have held off the release of this video two days

[@StephenSheridanOnline]

Wow, I can totally relate to this story. I too broke my neck (C2) and wore a Halo for three months followed by a hard coller. Got rear ended by a car while cycling to work. Lucky to be walking, talking and here to tell the tale.

[@gamingastronaut517]

Oh man, this Story made me cry. Adam is a really important person to me and the thought of him bot being here makes me really emotional...

[@ninjafished]

Man what a story! Parental anxieties through the roof listening to this!!

[@FERGUSMCFLY990]

As a fellow C7 breaker from a stoopid accident I share your gratitude for "getting away with it", and also your sympathy for your Mom! (I was also a regular at the local A&E / ER!)

[@raveninstones]

My uncle died before he completed High School in a similar diving incident. He dove and did not come up. I can see how much it touched my father losing his brother so young. I spent my whole life only knowing my uncle by a small memorial plaque on the HS wall. I can hear how much you respect your luck as you tell your story.

[@Zagr0]

Thanks for the story Adam! You really are a remarkable being. Sitting here listening to your story , carried me away! Stay safe the world needs more of your kind.

[@ThePsychoticSmiley]

Thank you so much for sharing such a personal story! And for the caution! I've heard plenty of horror stories of people that did not end up well after something similar. Never dive where you can't see.

[@neoquegon]

Adam you are living your best timeline, and we are all thankful for that thank you for everything you do!

[@raydunakin]

This reminds me of the story of how I broke my back. It was in 1978 and I was 23. Back then I used to take my brothers and friends out to an area called the Badlands, in the desert east of San Diego. The badlands was formed from an ancient seabed that was folded and tilted and pushed up over millennia, and then eroded into a ragged landscape of canyons and ridges. One canyon in particular has some mud caves, which are long, narrow, winding caverns cut through the layers of sediment. We especially liked to hang out there in the summer because it was a great place to get out of the desert heat. On this occasion we stopped for lunch in a cave that is roughly a half mile long and comes out on top of the mesa between canyons. After lunch the other guys were just resting in the cave, and I decided to take a short hike. I grabbed a canteen and set out down the canyon. Eventually I turned up a small side canyon, and followed that until I ended up on the mesa. By this time I was out of water. (Stupid mistake #1. I should have turned back while I still had water.) I really didn't want to go all the way back the way I came (Stupid mistake #2). I knew I was near the upper end of the cave, and I knew it would be a much shorter route if I could go through the cave. I didn't have a flashlight with me, but I decided to try it anyway. (Stupid mistake #3). I did have a book of matches. I figured I could just feel my way through most of it, and on the tougher parts I could light a match. Although I had been through that cave many times before, doing it without a flashlight was VERY different, and wasn't working well at all. I was having to use the matches for light much more frequently than I'd hoped. I had to make them last as long as possible, using each one until it was just a tiny flicker and starting to singe my fingers. About halfway through the cave I was at a point where I had to walk along a narrow ledge. The match I was currently using was almost dead and I could barely see. The ledge I was on ended, and I had to step down to my left, onto a lower ledge. I stepped down, and discovered the "lower ledge" was an illusion. My match went out and I fell sideways into the pitch black void. I remember thinking, "This is going to hurt." It did. I landed on my side and felt an excruciating pain in my lower back. Thankfully it was only about three feet to the cave floor. Also, I landed on one of the few places where the cavern floor was flat -- an irregular surface would have caused more damage. I lay there in the darkness, gasping in pain, and slowly began assessing my injuries. I was greatly relieved to find that I could move my legs and feet -- no paralysis. All my limbs seemed intact and my ribs were sore but unbroken. I gradually got myself up onto my feet, lit one of the remaining matches, and continued through the cave. Every step was agony. I was so thrilled when I saw a light and heard voices. Two of the guys just happened to be coming in my direction. With the aid of their flashlights I was able to make it out. Driving out of the desert was an ordeal, as every little bump on the trail sent a jolt of pain through my spine. I had no insurance back then, and no money, so I never went to the ER or a doctor. I had to just "toughed it out". It wasn't until a few years later that I had an x-ray done and found out that I had broken a piece off one vertebrae in my lower back.

[@kearnsey64]

This story reminds me of the scene in "It's a Wonderful Life" when Clarence the angel tells George, "A man touches so many lives. Adam, thank God you survived. Non of us would know you and nobody would have heard of Mythbusters because it never was!

[@kwanarchive]

Gotta have her tell the story the next time she's on Tested.

[@jdjeep98]

This is absolutely on of the best - if not the best - stories I've ever heard you tell!

[@carsontheFritz]

thanks for sharing adam! it is such a pleasure to hear you talk and so richly about such a tale!

[@nalinea18]

To those who don't live near water, Adam's luck almost defies the laws of Physics. He is so lucky he did not lose consciousness taking a hit like that or he would've likely drowned. I've seen it happen where a kid dives, faints, and everyone else thinks they're just playing instead of immediately pulling them out. It doesn't end well. Add to it that his spinal canal didn't shear in two… insane luck. I grew in the middle of a dozen lakes (Finland be like that). My uncle drowned at a river at 7 years old because he had a leg cramp. My cousin also dove headfirst into a rock when he was 9, and has had chronic pain and spinal canal narrowing causing leg weakness due to it ever since, he's about 30 now. He only jumped from a pier, it was 5 feet from the pier to the top of the rock, and he's still lucky to walk. He also lost consciousness and broke his skull. So many things can go wrong in water.

[@michaelmcfarland5903]

Wow, that’s terrifying, I’m so glad everything happened the way it did, things could have been so different. I think the great thing about what you do is it promotes critical though, it was a huge influence on me as a kid, and this channel continues to be now, I love what you do, and now I also feel very lucky

[@llXchonll]

I've been on a marathon the last few days on these types of videos. As a viewer that's so cool to be able to be able to hear all of these "behind the scenes" tidbits. Thank you for this :)

[@stephenoran2019]

This is probably my favorite Adam Savage story! The head-vs-rock thing explains a lot about Mythbusters! Glad you recovered so well - we need you in the world!

[@ruiloureiro3167]

Classic Adam Savage’s life episode. Love it! 😂😂😂

[@PilgrimInProgress]

Those of us who grew up in the 80's are friggin tough as nails. Free range kids we were.

[@patricksanders858]

Amen to that! Mom kicked me out of the house at 9 am with INSTRUCTIONS to be back by 5 for supper, not before.

[@patricksanders858]

Words of advice, WALK INTO THE WATER FIRST BEFORE DIVING IN.

[@JosephDavies]

The ones who survived, anyway... :(

[@alex0589]

So many kids died in dumb ways that the 90’s were PSAs wall to wall. You werent tough you were lucky ahah

[@JosephDavies]

@@alex0589 Indeed. Survivorship Bias 100%

[@akasquirlenut4633]

Thank you for sharing your story! I was in a head on collision 2 months ago and broke a vertebrae in my lower back and broke my medial malleolus clean off. Ive been doing physical therapy and just began walking in the last week without crutches or a boot. I have about 6-8 more weeks in a back brace but i am ahead of recovery and getting better day by day. Like you this is not my first close call or moment in the hospital. So i thank you for sharing.

[@coolstuffiown]

EXCELLENT story telling, always great hearing these stories 👌👌👌

[@DeadpoolNJ]

Adam would have just built himself a new neck out of hydraulics and titanium

[@TheReddeadmovie]

haha nice one =)

[@captainspaulding5963]

Rubber bands and newspapers!!

[@roccov3614]

Except he may have never become the maker he is today if things had gone differently.

[@pabloripoll3006]

Knowing this story, it is like a true miracle that you have lived your life and your career as you did. Trust me.

[@bartolomeothesatyr]

Truly, you are a gifted storyteller, Adam. Thanks for sharing this story with us.

[@ermacpd4128]

Holy crap! We almost lost an icon from some childhood fun. Glad you are still here and teaching and sharing!

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

Happy birthday to you. Now I wanna here your mum’s recounting from her perspective. Unless she’s still in a room sorting lego.🙂🐿

[@digitaIgorilla]

How else do you think he's funding his Ecto1 build? Sweat-shop-lego-mom!

[@SusCrow]

@4:02 "I'm Adam Savage and this is jackass" I'd say Savage was lucky, but that would be an understatement.

[@TheIsidro007]

I could listen to you hours man.....u got a lot to tell greetings from Nicaragua!

[@poisonglitterkisses]

Very very lucky indeed, and thank you for sharing, especially this time of year when many people are drawn to bodies of water and more likely be drawn into risky situations… hopefully your story will make someone stop and think about dangers like this.

[@larsbevers]

Love seeing Adam uncensored swearing on that doctor.

[@antraxxslingshots]

Maaaaaaan...now that i have a kid on my own...those storys went from "WOW, SO COOL!" to "OMFG NOoOoo!" in like a Heartbeat o_O

[@lucasschigart2721]

Does the reverse count as well? When I was that age my father was collecting fracture injuries like he got a punch card for the hospital. The last one was when he got the handguard of his motorcycle into his eyesocked in an accident. I was on a date, my mother didn't tell me. My sister told it to me when I was on my way to my apartment. Rushed home to my parents like a maniac. Ultimately everything was 'fine', but I almost had an heartattack anyway.

[@jpdallastx]

I’m so grateful you survived that experience Adam, all of us who appreciate your presence in this world are a little bit better because of your teachings and wisdom. I died when I was 2 years old in the 70’s; I was clinically dead for several minutes while CPR was performed on me. Of course I don’t remember the moment but the stories of my mom running around screaming while they were trying to revive me always stuck with me. I’m not a parent myself but just the story of that moment has always resonated with me and is probably why I’m a belt & suspenders kind of guy to this day, safety is always first!

[@lukefreeman828]

This is one of my favourite stories so far! Absolutely brilliant

[@chuckoneill2023]

It sounds like the doctor and EMT were invested in the medical variation of "scared straight" treatment. I know a lot of young men are emergency room "repeat offenders".

[@mixtermuxter8602]

I had almost the exact same experience - it involved a sea instead of a river, but yea... glad to be alright after that.

[@TrevorHigginsDustysqueak]

I was a near death 9 year old in children’s hospital in the 80’s. God bless the moms. Glad your here Adam.

[@andrewosburn7420]

I live in Alton Illinois, which is right on the Mississippi river, and not a summer goes by without a news story about a kid doing exactly what you just described. I'm glad you were able to walk away and share your experience as a cautionary tale.

[@101elesdee]

Great story. I don't even want to imagine being the parent in that circumstance.

[@mpbx3003]

I actually looked up the day of the week it was, and it was a Monday, unsurprisingly.

[@bobfels5343]

Im sooo glad you survived it and came out OK, so you could share your awesomeness with the world :)

[@FattmanUK]

Wish I could “heart” not just “thumbs up” this - recognition of our parents’ trials and tribulations when we become parents ourselves. And Adam is just *such* a nice guy.

[@gideonbrown4215]

I love the tone Adam has when he says his birthday. It’s like you can hear that inner voice saying, “There. That’s my birthday. Go, all you math lovers, discover my true age. Have fun.”

[@incognitoatunknown2702]

As a parent yeah, the horror I felt just listening to you tell that tale.

[@daveogarf]

Adam, this was one compelling story! Thanks for sharing.

[@therealOXOC]

life changing. glad you are here for us.

[@bcwbcw3741]

Light house is still there. The GM site is now fancy condo's for the last few years.

[@wyattmoates]

I love that you make sure to point out that you left things as you found them, no vandalism ! So important and so happy you are ok. (Tammy not Wyatt)

[@romainvilleneuve]

unbeleivable story it emotional time for you re parent and you rigth it true but thank to sharing us this story with us !!

[@janetmichel3009]

Holy shit, Adam! I'm glad you're ok! Your poor mom!

[@magreger]

"Urban spelunking" I love you Adam

[@robertseguin4875]

thanks for sharing amazing story, someone from above was watching.

[@justinjbenjamin]

You are so inspiring, thank you for being you.

[@2vcrew782]

I’m 38 now but I spent many nights years ago watching Mythbusters eating a Wendy’s Frosty stoned to the bone 🤣

[@fedeisonline5626]

living the life man

[@katbairwell]

I had no idea Adam was Haagensen's grandson, there's an antecedent to be proud of!

[@xshunnedx]

lol brother i also grew up in the 70s and 80s it was a different time. and yes we got hurt A LOT but like you i am still here to tell you . glad you made it

[@glyph2011]

Probably the best tested video I’ve ever seen. Wonderful cautionary tale. Played out like an episode of E.R in my mind.

[@digitaIgorilla]

Never dive when you can jump. Never jump when you can step, never step when you can turn around and stay the hell on dry land.

[@bernds6587]

I always wanted to say this, and honestly, this fits more than ever: This is savage snap, someone said that a few minutes before!

[@helidevil123]

Adam, you are amazing at drawing pictures inside our minds. Thank you. Everyone, do this more.

[@groermaik]

Wonderful story, told brilliantly. Thank you.

[@Zapporah85]

As someone that gets on a horse almost everyday, this scares me a little 😅

[@The_Keeper]

It should. Horses have the highest kill-count of any animal in a lot of countries.

[@Zapporah85]

@@The_Keeper Well, that's because of the number of interactions too. It's the same reason Golden retrievers attack the most people in the United States, it's a very common breed.

[@Stettafire]

@@Zapporah85 Same with black labradors over here, though they're expensive now so the stats are shifting slightly