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911 call documents discovery of man stuck in truck for 6 days
PORTAGE, Ind. (CBS) — Matt Reum survived nearly a week in the wild on nothing but rainwater, as he was trapped for six days in a wrecked truck in Northwest Indiana.
CBS 2’s Lauren Victory got her hands on the 911 call made by one of the two fishermen who found the crash victim.
As they explained at a news conference on Tuesday, Mario Garcia and his son-in-law Nivardo Delatorre, were walking along Salt Creek near Portage, Indiana, in search of a good fishing spot Tuesday afternoon. But something shiny caught their attention – and it turned out to be a mangled truck.
Garcia said he moved the white airbag in the cab of the truck and went to touch what he thought was the driver’s dead body. But the driver turned around, and began speaking.
“It almost killed me there, because it was kind of shocking,” Garcia said Tuesday night, “but he was alive, and he was very happy to see us. Like he was really like, I’ve never seen a relief like that.”
The astonishment could be heard in Delatorre’s voice as made the 911 call.
“Hey sir. I’m, I’m here at… let’s see, a fishing hole right off of the expressway here,” Delatorre told a 911 operator. “I can’t really – I don’t know the address, but there’s a car that’s been here since Wednesday, and there is a person inside of it. He’s still alive too.”
The fishermen could not believe this all happened as they went out on a leisurely mission to find a fishing spot.
“Dude, that’s crazy,” Delatorre said in the 911 call. “I came down here to check for fishing and he’s down here in the car.”
While Reum was alive, he was in shock.
“You guys might need the jaws of life to open the doors,” Delatorre told the 911 operator. “His truck is pretty wrecked.”
On the call, Delatorre was heard yelling to the victim while on the phone.
“They’re on their way, buddy!” Delatorre was heard saying. “They’re on their way!”
As Delatorre predicted, rescue crews did have to bring in the jaws of life to get Reum, 27, out of the truck. The vehicle had gone off Interstate 94 and had rolled underneath a bridge back on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Reum spent six days – including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – trapped in the wrecked truck out in the elements before someone found him. We are told Reum couldn’t call for help because his cellphone was just out of reach.
On Wednesday, friends posted a picture of Reum smiling and giving a thumbs-up from his hospital bed. They have started an online fundraiser for Reum – a welder and a member of the member of Boilermakers Local 374 who lives in Mishawaka, Indiana, near South Bend.
Multiple sources described him as kind, respectful man.
via GoFundMe
We are told that as of Wednesday, Reum was awake and able to speak.
Reum told the fishermen who rescued him that he survived off rainwater. CBS 2 tapped two independent medical experts to understand more about the odds of surviving so long in the elements while trapped – with only rainwater to drink.
“This man was very, very lucky,” said Dr. Dr. Emily Jameyfield of the University of Chicago Medicine emergency department.
The experts explained that people can’t survive very long without water.
“You can survive weeks to months without food – without solid food – but you can only go a handful of days, if even, without water,” said Jameyfield.
“People can survive longer without food than they can without water,” said Dr. Evelyn Huang, an emergency medicine physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, “the reason being is that there are stores of energy inside of our body that can replace food, but water is really hard to access and really hard to store.”
Victory asked Huang to explain in junior-high biology terms why the body needs water.
“Water is essential to life,” Huang said. “It’s essential to all most mammal lives.”
As the Mayo Clinic explains, water amounts to 60 percent of a human being’s body weight.
It is needed for multiple functions that are necessary for survival – including regulating body temperature; moistening tissue in the eyes, nose, and mouth; protecting internal organs and tissues; carrying oxygen and nutrients to cells; keeping joints lubricated; flushing out waste products and lessening the burden on the kidneys and liver; and dissolving minerals and nutrients so the body can access them, the Mayo Clinic explained.
Doctors amputated Reum’s left leg at mid-shin earlier Wednesday. Friends said Reum broke several bones, and will need some time to recover physically and mentally.
He remained in critical condition as of early Wednesday evening.
Late Wednesday, Reum released a statement through a hospital spokesperson. He said he is requesting privacy while he heals – and he is grateful for all the support he has received.
Reum’s friends said he needs a couple of days to process what happened before he reveals to the world how he survived.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
CBS News
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.