A Man, Severed in Half by a Forklift, Opens Up About Survival and a Painful Family Rift Years Later

Loren Schauers was 18 years old in 2019 when a horrific construction accident changed his life forever. While driving a forklift over a bridge in Montana, he veered off, plummeted 50 feet, and was crushed beneath the vehicle. Conscious throughout, he saw his right arm destroyed and his body severed below the waist.

Miraculously, he survived after undergoing a radical hemicorperectomy surgery, which amputated everything below his waist. Now 24, Loren lives with his wife and full-time carer, Sabia Reiche, documenting their life together online. In a new interview, he has revealed the profound emotional aftermath, including a painful estrangement from much of his family.

Loren says that after it became clear he would survive, his family’s support faded. He felt they visited more out of morbid curiosity than genuine care, creating a spectacle of his condition. This rift deepened due to their inability to accept the authentic love between him and Sabia. Loren admits he has since withdrawn, becoming “more and more of a hermit,” as efforts to maintain contact feel one-sided.

He credits his survival and positive outlook to his half-sister—who researched and advocated for his life-saving surgery—and to Sabia and her family. Despite gaining a bionic arm and mobility through a specialized wheelchair, Loren requires constant care and has struggled with independence. He and Sabia, married in 2021, focus on their social media career but face challenges in generating new content years after the accident.

While they once hoped to start a family, Loren now doubts it’s feasible, concerned their demanding lifestyle wouldn’t be fair to a child. He also addresses the dark side of their online presence, including trolls who impersonate them to steal their identity and followers. Despite these hardships, Loren remains grateful for the support of fans, which he says has been crucial in allowing them to build a stable life.