Conn. man who tried to cut off his own arm when it became stuck in furnace is back in surgery

Conn. man who tried to cut off arm is in surgery

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut man who tried to amputate his own arm after he became trapped for days while working on his basement furnace is back in surgery.

Jonathan Metz got his arm caught Sunday in his furnace boiler. He was rescued Wednesday, a day after he used his own tools and cut through most of his left arm.

Tina Verona, a spokeswoman for Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, says doctors on Friday morning were performing a grafting operation to prepare Metz for a prosthetic.

Dr. Scott Ellner says the operation involves removing more tissue that may not be healthy, and then grafting skin and muscle onto the remaining bone. It is expected to take several hours.

Doctors hope the 31-year-old West Hartford man can be released from the hospital sometime next week.