Just when you think you’ve seen every kind of accident story, something so shocking emerges that it’s almost hard to believe it actually happened.
Imagine being trapped under a massive forklift—completely pinned—while fully conscious, knowing that your life is hanging by a thread. This isn’t just a tale of survival; it’s a harrowing account that challenges everything we think about human endurance and medical miracles.
Loren Schauers’ story is not for the faint of heart, and the photos he bravely shared pull back the curtain on a nightmare few could imagine surviving.
A man who survived a devastating forklift accident has courageously shared a harrowing photo from the life-altering day.
Loren Schauers was just 18 years old when tragedy struck while he was working as a laborer in September 2019.
While operating a forklift on a bridge in the U.S., the machine unexpectedly veered off course, causing him to fall 50 feet to the ground. Although Loren survived the fall, the four-ton forklift toppled onto him, trapping him beneath and inflicting catastrophic injuries. Remarkably, he remained fully conscious throughout the entire incident.
With his pelvis completely shattered, Loren made the difficult but heroic choice to undergo a hemicorporectomy — a surgical procedure that removes everything below the waist — in order to save his life. Reflecting on the decision, he said, “It wasn’t a hard choice to have half my body amputated — it was literally a choice between living and dying.”
Years after the accident, Loren continues to share his journey and recently posted images from the traumatic event. The photos show the overturned forklift resting on a steep slope, with Loren trapped underneath. On Instagram, he noted, “If you look closely at the second photo, you can see me still pinned beneath the forklift. The last photo is exactly the type it was—I’m sure of it.”
At the time, Loren’s girlfriend, now wife, Sabia Reiche, was repeatedly told by doctors that he might not survive. She faced the heart-wrenching task of saying goodbye to him six times as he battled for his life. Against all odds, Loren pulled through, though his recovery has been long and grueling.
Recalling the accident, Loren shared, “I was conscious the whole time, so I actually saw the forklift fall on top of me and crush my body. Every medical professional I meet is amazed by the story behind my injuries.”
Loren and Sabia now document their life together on a YouTube channel, sharing their experiences openly. In a Q\&A video, when asked a personal question about their intimate life, Sabia responded firmly, calling it “disrespectful.” She explained, “We often get asked how we have sex or maintain intimacy.
That’s a very private matter we will never answer or hint at because it’s disrespectful. You wouldn’t ask a random couple on the street about their sex life, and just because our circumstances are different doesn’t give people the right to ask.”
Loren Schauers’ story is a powerful testament to human resilience and the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Despite enduring a life-changing accident and the immense challenges that followed, Loren’s courage and determination have inspired many.
Alongside Sabia, he continues to live openly and honestly, showing that even in the darkest moments, hope and love can prevail. Their journey reminds us of the importance of respect, privacy, and compassion when it comes to personal struggles and the paths we take toward healing.