[TheForge] Sculptor Albert Paley burned: Rochester

Tue Jul 30 10:25:00 2002

Thank you for passing along this information and article. Albert is one 
of my greatest living heroes in our field, or any field for that matter. 
It also underlines that no matter how experienced you are, or how much 
attention you pay to safety, accidents can happen that are not under 
your control and the results can be disasterous.

Please keep us posted on his well being. My thoughts and wishes are with 
him during this difficult time.

Ray Miller
Cincinnati

lama wrote:

>Sculptor burned: Rochester
>- Albert Paley, a world-renowned metal sculptor whose monumental creations grace museums, plazas, universities and corporate courtyards from Washington to San Francisco, suffered serious burns in a blowtorch mishap at an artist's studio.
>
>Paley, 58, was in guarded condition at a hospital Saturday with second- and third-degree burns over more than 20 percent of his body, mostly his head, chest, left arm and legs.
>
>He was cutting metal with a propane torch when a gas line burst and set his clothes on fire around midday Friday, authorities said. Emergency crews found him hosing himself off outside the studio.
>
>###  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0729story065735_news.shtml
>
>-----------------------------------------
>Dear Friends of Albert's,
>
>I spoke with Albert's daughter today and have some current information.  We 
>cleared with Francis, Albert's wife, that it would be alright to disclose 
>daily just how Albert is doing.  I will be speaking with Kimberly or 
>Francis every day and bringing you the most current information available.
>
>Here is what Kimberly told me today:
>Albert was up in the air in a bucket style man lift  doing torch work on a 
>sculpture. He was way up in the air  a when a hose ruptured. The fuel gas 
>(propane) went to the bottom of the lift bucket where he stood. He had two 
>men on the ground working with him but neither knew how to operate the 
>lift. Albert simultaneously put the flames out himself and got  down from 
>the lift. He had his men immediately dousing him with cold water from the 
>hose. Medical units were on site immediately, as was Francis who was then 
>able to ride with him in the ambulance to the hospital.
>
>He was taken to Strong Memorial Burn Unit. He has very seriously burned but 
>he is making good progress. His left hand was badly burned. Fortunately it 
>was to the skin layers and not the muscle layers. His ear, Cheeks and part 
>of legs were burned as well. He was scheduled for surgery today but they 
>saw new growth of cells and postponed surgery to watch and see if he could 
>re generate most of the necessary cells himself rather than have skin 
>grafts. He heals very quickly from burns based on past experience.
>
>Albert was wearing his full heavy leather gear, goggles for eye protection, 
>good hair protection, gloves and masks suitable for the job. He was doing 
>everything correctly to protect himself but the hose simply burst. Propane 
>being heaver than air, then spilled into the bottom of the lift under his 
>feet and burst into flames.
>
>Albert is in complete control of his mind and insists upon writing down 
>everything that comes across it.  There isn't anyone more determined than 
>Albert to get out of there  and back to work.  This will be a long haul and 
>it is distressing but Albert will be alright.
>
>I'll be speaking to Kimberly again tomorrow and I will be in touch.  Please 
>pass this along to those on your list who you know will want to know.  I 
>had a huge melt down on my machi\ne and my address book is not as complete 
>as it once way.
>
>Thanks,
>Dorothy
>------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Dave Mudge  [email protected]
>http://magichammer.ironworkers.com
>http://magichammer.freeservers.com
>"Our lives begin to end the day we become 
>silent about things that matter"  M.L. King
>
>
>
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