Despondent 1920s Man’s Attempt At Suicide Foiled By His Fake Leg Made Out Of Cork
The lowest of lows for a New York man ended up making headlines
Life is hard and sometimes can be downright overwhelming. The ensuing struggle can take many forms, and sometimes results in people attempting to end their lives to get away from the pain and problems. Fortunately, not all efforts at suicide are successful, for muriad reasons. Perhaps one of the most unusual occurred in the 1920s when a despondent man tried to drown himself but was saved in large part by his prosthetic leg, which was made out of cork.
In 1924, Russell B. Hayward of New York was a homeless 39-year-old drug addict. He had long tried to kick his narcotic habit but always fell back into using. It was a vicious cycle, as he used drugs to combat his difficult life, but his addiction also prevented him from being able to make positive strides towards a healthier life and finding a roof over his head.
Finally reaching his breaking point, Hayward jumped into New York Bay with the intent of drowning himself. However, his dark plan was foiled by his fake leg, which was made out of cork. Instead of quietly sinking to the bottom of the murky water, his prosthetic kept him awkwardly floating.
