Trapped Under a Forklift, Fully Conscious: Loren Schauers’ Unbelievable Fight for Life
Just when you think the world’s stories have shown you every kind of survival, along comes a nightmare so extreme it defies belief.
Imagine being pinned beneath a four-ton forklift—completely trapped, your body crushed, every breath a battle—all while fully awake and aware. This is not fiction. This is Loren Schauers’ reality.
In September 2019, 18-year-old Loren was working on a bridge in the U.S., operating a forklift when everything spiraled out of control.
The massive machine careened off course, plummeting 50 feet—and crushing Loren beneath its heavy weight. Miraculously, despite catastrophic injuries including a shattered pelvis, Loren remained conscious throughout the terrifying ordeal.
Faced with a life-or-death decision, Loren chose to undergo a hemicorporectomy—a radical surgery that removes everything below the waist—to survive. “It wasn’t a hard choice,” Loren said. “It was literally between living and dying.”
Years later, Loren’s courage still shines. He’s shared haunting photos of the accident site—the forklift overturned on a steep slope, with Loren trapped underneath. “If you look closely,” he wrote on Instagram, “you can see me pinned beneath it.”
Through it all, Loren’s partner—now wife—Sabia stood unwaveringly by his side. Doctors warned her repeatedly that Loren might not make it. She faced saying goodbye six times. Yet Loren’s strength defied the odds.
Today, Loren and Sabia open a window into their life on YouTube, sharing their journey candidly while fiercely guarding their privacy. When asked about intimate details, Sabia asserts boundaries firmly: “It’s disrespectful. Just because our situation is different doesn’t mean people get to ask.”
Their story is more than a tale of survival. It’s a testament to resilience, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure unimaginable hardship with dignity. Loren’s journey pushes us to rethink courage, the meaning of strength, and the respect we owe to those facing profound challenges.