Thomas Andrew Detwiler: Armless farmer and YouTube sensation dies of aneurysm at 52
COLUMBUS, OHIO: An inspiring YouTuber from Ohio, who lost both of his hands in a farm accident, has died at the age of 52 from an aneurysm.
Thomas Andrew 'Andy' Detwiler, also known as ‘Harmless Farmer’ died on September 21 in Urbana, Columbus after suffering an aneurysm after having contracted pneumonia. Mourning the death of the inspiring YouTuber, his wife Corkey said in an emotional farewell video that Detwiler was also being treated for esophageal cancer. She stated she noticed "Andy's breathing funny" just a day before he passed away
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Corkey took him to the local hospital where the medical staff revealed he is diagnosed with pneumonia and had a low sugar level. She said once the staff managed to level it out, Andy said he is feeling better. But this better feeling lasted just a few minutes as he soon sat up straight and gasped in pain. "He couldn't catch his breath, he was looking at me terrified," Corkey said in the video. "He couldn't speak." The hospital staff decided to shift him to a hospital in Springfield, but he died even before being loaded into the ambulance. "He died in Urbana," Corkey said.
With more than 130,000 followers on his YouTube channel, Andy inspired thousands by performing tasks including shooting guns, repairing and driving a tractor, and feeding all his farm animals despite losing both of his arms in a childhood farm accident. Andy was just two-year-old when he lost his arms on July 18, 1972, while mimicking his grandfather Bick Detwiler. Trying to mimic his grandfather, Andy went to stick his hand into the auger and fell into the spiral-shaped drill. Tragically, by the time his grandfather managed to take him out, his arms were amputated.
After five long weeks in the hospital, the young boy managed to survive and eventually growing up learned the art of performing day-to-day tasks without arms. Andy pursued his family business and ran his own 300-acre section of corn and soybean fields. In his YouTube videos, Andy showed how he learned to build his own farm machines, paint antique farm equipment, operate a snow plow, and more.
Andy made his YouTube channel back in 2018 in hopes of earning some side money but never thought he will be able to reach this milestone. During this social media journey, he inspired many and gave hope to people suffering from cancer. The sudden death of the farmer left his followers devastated. Mourning the death, one of his followers said "I had the pleasure of spending some time with Andy and he truly was an inspiration. With all the adversities this man faced within his life I never saw Andy without a smile on his face. What a great example of how to live your life. Thank you for sharing him with us. We will miss him and his videos, we here in Champaign county are here for anything you and your family needs. Much love."
“To hear how everyone in the community rallied around you to provide everything you needed brought me to tears. I'm originally from WL so I can picture all of the places and faces. How beautiful. I'm so sorry for your loss.” Commented another user under the last emotional farewell.
Corkey said the family is considering hosting a funeral for Andy at the family farm, which they've owned since 1904. "Andy and I had talked about different things about when he died. No funeral homes no hearse, anything like that," Corkey said in the farewell video. "I just want to have it at the farm, That's where he went was every day, that's what he loved."