Toronto June 1981 among the man at Toronto’s busiest firehouse George Evans
Toronto’s busiest firehouse George Evans
Toronto’s busiest firehouse George Evans stands out he’s a little big man I was a
stands out he’s a little big man I was a
stands out he’s a little big man I was a smallest guy in the truck but I was a
smallest guy in the truck but I was a
smallest guy in the truck but I was a strongest guy in the truck he’s in peak
strongest guy in the truck he’s in peak
strongest guy in the truck he’s in peak condition five feet eight and 90 kilos
condition five feet eight and 90 kilos
condition five feet eight and 90 kilos of muscle
of muscle
of muscle I had a gym in my basement I had a gym
I had a gym in my basement I had a gym
I had a gym in my basement I had a gym at the fire hall I was always pumping
at the fire hall I was always pumping
at the fire hall I was always pumping iron
on this early summer evening a roof fire
on this early summer evening a roof fire breaks out at the Confederation Life
breaks out at the Confederation Life
breaks out at the Confederation Life Building a six-story office in downtown
Building a six-story office in downtown
Building a six-story office in downtown Toronto 20 trucks respond you Ross sees
Toronto 20 trucks respond you Ross sees
Toronto 20 trucks respond you Ross sees the roof is about to go
the roof is about to go
the roof is about to go I could see up through the open elevator
I could see up through the open elevator
I could see up through the open elevator shaft the peak of the building and it
shaft the peak of the building and it
shaft the peak of the building and it was starting to waver
everybody said get the hell out it’s
everybody said get the hell out it’s everybody out the next thing I know was
everybody out the next thing I know was
everybody out the next thing I know was the roof collapse
I feel like a pile driver hit me on the
I feel like a pile driver hit me on the top of the head George is flattened by
top of the head George is flattened by
top of the head George is flattened by debris that was a tremendous thump I’m
debris that was a tremendous thump I’m
debris that was a tremendous thump I’m in the dark now like laying on my back I
in the dark now like laying on my back I
in the dark now like laying on my back I guess it gets worse the weight of the
guess it gets worse the weight of the
guess it gets worse the weight of the Fallen roof is too much but down on the
Fallen roof is too much but down on the
Fallen roof is too much but down on the fourth floor
fourth floor
fourth floor pounded out of the third floor they
pounded out of the third floor they
pounded out of the third floor they found that on the second floor
George has lived only to face death
George has lived only to face death again
trapped under a 270 kilo beam he can’t
trapped under a 270 kilo beam he can’t breathe 18 by 18 solid hardwood an
breathe 18 by 18 solid hardwood an
breathe 18 by 18 solid hardwood an enormous weight if he doesn’t move the
enormous weight if he doesn’t move the
enormous weight if he doesn’t move the beam he’ll die but it’s twice what he
beam he’ll die but it’s twice what he
beam he’ll die but it’s twice what he can benchpress worse he’s crippled by
can benchpress worse he’s crippled by
can benchpress worse he’s crippled by dislocated shoulders
dislocated shoulders
dislocated shoulders George should be completely immobilized
George should be completely immobilized
George should be completely immobilized by such severe injuries
he’s in agony but his body has an
he’s in agony but his body has an antidote his brain instructs the
antidote his brain instructs the
antidote his brain instructs the pituitary gland to release endorphins
pituitary gland to release endorphins
pituitary gland to release endorphins the body’s natural painkillers the
the body’s natural painkillers the
the body’s natural painkillers the endorphins lock into receptors in his
endorphins lock into receptors in his
endorphins lock into receptors in his nervous system and block pain messages
nervous system and block pain messages
nervous system and block pain messages from reaching his brain results
from reaching his brain results
from reaching his brain results temporary euphoria George’s body is also
temporary euphoria George’s body is also
temporary euphoria George’s body is also primed with adrenaline his heart is
primed with adrenaline his heart is
primed with adrenaline his heart is pumping extra oxygen and sugar to his
pumping extra oxygen and sugar to his
pumping extra oxygen and sugar to his muscles as well as to his brain as a
muscles as well as to his brain as a
muscles as well as to his brain as a result his mind is focused on a single
result his mind is focused on a single
result his mind is focused on a single task
the surge of endorphins and adrenaline
the surge of endorphins and adrenaline gives George the boost he needs he
gives George the boost he needs he
gives George the boost he needs he pushes through the pain barrier the
pushes through the pain barrier the
pushes through the pain barrier the third key to his survival
George spent nine days in intensive care
George spent nine days in intensive care six weeks in traction three and a half
six weeks in traction three and a half
six weeks in traction three and a half months in the hospital and two years in
months in the hospital and two years in
months in the hospital and two years in painful physiotherapy then he returned
painful physiotherapy then he returned
painful physiotherapy then he returned to work as a firefighter after 30 years
to work as a firefighter after 30 years
to work as a firefighter after 30 years on the service he made district chief he
on the service he made district chief he
on the service he made district chief he retired in 1997 to this day his survival
retired in 1997 to this day his survival
retired in 1997 to this day his survival confounds the experts
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