Man Who Lost Lower Half in Forklift Accident Reflects on Friends’ Reactions

Loren Schauers, a man who survived a horrific forklift accident that left him without the lower half of his body, has opened up about his disappointment in how some of his friends reacted to the life-altering incident. The accident occurred on September 27, 2019, in Montana, US, when Loren, a laborer at the time, veered off a bridge while operating a forklift. The vehicle plunged 50 feet, pinning Loren beneath it and severely crushing everything below his hips. He also lost half of his right arm.

After a successful amputation, Loren and his wife, Sabia Reiche, began sharing updates about his recovery journey on their YouTube channel. In a video, Loren explained how the accident happened: “Since my supervisor took a liking to me, he asked me to do practically everything he wanted done… My boss asked me to grab the forklift, drag it across, and move the water barrier back into position. I never got trained to even drive a forklift.”

In a recent video, Loren responded to a fan question about whether his friends still treated him the same after the accident. “I’ve been mostly disappointed by most of them, I’d say,” Loren admitted. His wife, Sabia, added, “I’ve been a little surprised by some of them.” However, Loren clarified that a few friends have been very supportive, saying, “A couple of friends came out of the woodworks and have been really supportive.”

Loren also shared details about his daily life. “I stream on Twitch as much as possible, whenever I can get up,” he said. “But other than that, pretty much just lay in bed… whenever I’m sitting up, we’re either doing YouTube videos or I’m streaming on Twitch.” Sabia added that they enjoy spending time outdoors when possible: “In the summertime, we go on walks, and we have a community pool here, we’ll spend some time there too.”

Despite the immense challenges he faces, Loren’s positive outlook on life has inspired many. One viewer commented, “He is physically half the man I am, but I am emotionally and mentally half the man he is. I wish I had his motivation and outlook on life. You rock, my dude!” Another person wrote, “I am a 73-year-old man, and I must say that I am full of admiration and respect for these two young people. It’s a great lesson in life and love that they give us: a huge thank you to them, God bless them.”

Loren and Sabia continue to share their story, spreading a message of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.