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Elderly man falls through wall at Jell-O Museum, now in cardiac arrest

By Billie Owens

An elderly man is reported to have fallen through a wall at the Jello-O Gallery Museum, landing six feet below, and is unconscious with a head laceration. He is in full cardiac arrest.

Le Roy ambulance is responding. The accident occurred at the rear of the building, located at 23 E. Main St. in Le Roy.

UPDATE (2:44 p.m.): The patient is on a stretcher, back-boarded and collared and en route to UMMC.

janien klotzbach

Anyone who would joke about such a thing should be the one on the stretcher...except in a jacket that ties from behind!! So u should BOUNCE with a comment like that! So not funny! Imagine the fear this ELDERLY man must have felt knowing he was falling.. NOT to mention the pain he felt when he hit.. and full cardiac arrest! I pray that he will be okay and that his family members do not visit this site to see your cruel comment.

Oct 23, 2010, 12:21am Permalink
CJ Ferraro

In Greg's defense, I thought of the exact same comment in my head while reading this story, but I think it's best to wait until/if we hear the man has made a recovery and the situation is less serious before we joke about it.

Oct 23, 2010, 1:43am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Janien, lighten up already. I also instantly thought of some lame Jello joke when I read the report. It's natural for people to try and make light of the realities of life as a means of dealing with it. I doubt Greg wants anyone to suffer or to be disrespectful. C'mon..if you can't joke about things then you're just going to end up a basket case.

Oct 23, 2010, 5:23am Permalink
Rita Kautz

Janien: Your comment was entirely appropriate. Congratulations for chewing out Greg. He needed it. It's beyond my comprehension how anyone could express humor upon hearing that someone was possibly on the verge of death. I admit that having been very close to 2 elderly people (and I mean physically close) who unexpectedly died within the last week may have sensitized me at this particular point in time. However, there's such a feeling of lose at the time of death. You think of all the good things the person may have done and all they will now be unable to do, all the disappointments that were never "fixed" for them, the pain their family members will feel, the horror of having to tell them. Jokes under such circumstances are totally inappropriate. I've always found the obviously painful accidents filmed for "America's Funniest Home Videos" excruciatingly painful to see during the few times I've watched that show. Perhaps people who can joke about imminent death have never been exposed at any time in their lives to someone near them who was close to dying. I nursed two excruciatingly sick babies back to health, each for months, who could have died at any moment only, in the end, to lose another child very unexpectedly. I learned how precious life is and how fleetinig it can be. I hope the gentleman at the Jello factory will be fine. Best wishes to him and to his family.

Oct 23, 2010, 8:20am Permalink
janien klotzbach

Rita, thank you for your comment in my defense and for giving more details of the reality of life being painful when serious pain or death is involved. Those who know me know I have a great sense of humor however anyone knows that such a thing as this is NOT funny! Perhaps joking about the woman who stole food off of the buffet is appropriate considering what she did prior that made national news, joking about a person in such pain is not...so Doug,CJ and Richard, when you read the article that this man was hurt and full cardiac arrest...all you could think about was "were the walls made of Jello"? you didnt feel for him or the pain of this man already being brittle from age? So by those who think this sort of thing is funny, should I assume that humor should be found in those with disabilities, injured war victims, deformities? Is this now "socially acceptable"? Because to me and many others i'm sure...this would fall along those same lines.

Oct 23, 2010, 11:55am Permalink
Bernie Thompson

Greg;
Your post should had been deleted,as it was not only not funny it was insensitive!! Anyone that says different living in the same sad world as you! I just return from Vermont were I attended a funeral of a dear friend who passed away because of "Cardiac Arrest" and not one person there found any humor in it!!!
I send my prays to the gentleman and his family.

Oct 23, 2010, 3:05pm Permalink
CJ Ferraro

janien klotzbach said, "...so Doug,CJ and Richard, when you read the article that this man was hurt and full cardiac arrest...all you could think about was "were the walls made of Jello'?"

I can only speak for myself, but absolutely not. The man has been in my prayers.
Many people are able to find humor in the worst of situations and this scenario is so unique that humorous mental images are bound to form in people's minds, whether they like it or not. Who knows? Maybe the victim himself would make a similar joke about his misfortune. I know I would be able to joke about the situation if it happened to me.
However, it is important to remember that the accident here is serious and sad. Even if it makes us think of jokes, it should not be taken lightly, especially here and now.

Oct 23, 2010, 6:16pm Permalink

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