February 16, 2013

Carl Pavano Almost Died After Snow-Shoveling Fall: Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano said that the freak accident he suffered Jan. 12 while shoveling snow was nearly fatal. Pavano, 37, fell and jammed his midsection on a shovel handle at his Vermont home. He didn't know for four days that he'd lacerated his spleen. Surgery was performed at a Connecticut hospital after he went into shock, his blood count plummeted and his lung collapsed. "He said I was on borrowed time," Pavano said a family doctor told his wife, urging Pavano to go to a trauma center at once. "I was hours away from going into cardiac arrest and probably wouldn't even be here." A free agent, he doesn't know if he'll be able to pitch this season. "Right now, that's the last thing I'm worried about," he said.

posted by rcade to baseball at 02:20 PM - 2 comments

Insane how a seemingly simple injury like that -- something no doubt many of us have done -- could lacerate a spleen. Perforated by a rib perhaps?

posted by evixir at 01:54 PM on February 18, 2013

Truly a weird event, but when you are working on a slippery surface, lifting a heavy load, and bending your body at some strange angles, a seemingly simple accident can become quite serious. I do wonder why anyone living in Vermont who has even modest financial means would not buy a snow blower. Unless you get really stupid and override the safety devices, it's pretty hard to hurt yourself with one of these.

posted by Howard_T at 02:27 PM on February 18, 2013

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