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Andy Detwiler

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Andy Detwiler
Born
Thomas Andrew Detwiler[1][2]

(1969-11-24)November 24, 1969
DiedSeptember 21, 2022(2022-09-21) (aged 52)
OccupationFarmer
Spouse
Corkey Wallace
(m. 1996)
[1]
Children1[1]

Thomas Andrew Detwiler (November 24, 1969[1] – September 21, 2022), also known as Harmless Farmer,[2][3] was an American farmer who lost both of his arms in an accident as a very young child, and was known for his YouTube videos.[1][4]

Biography

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Detwiler was born in Urbana, Ohio, the son of a farmer and a middle school teacher. He had a sister and a brother. At the age of two, his paternal grandfather was working on a screw conveyor. Detwiler came up to his grandfather and imitated him,[1] but came too close to the screw conveyor, losing both of his arms and receiving cuts to his face. He was rushed to the hospital.[5]

At the age of nine, Detwiler was recognized by Ace Elliott who worked for the Dayton Daily News, in which Elliott noted that Detwiler could write with his legs.[6] Detwiler attended Salem Elementary School[6][7] and West Liberty-Salem High School, graduating in 1988.[1]

Detwiler decided to make a YouTube channel on March 3, 2016.[3] His first video, called Welcome to the Farm, was posted on November 1, 2018.[8] He thought of receiving money while making YouTube videos for which he had gained popularity while his channel was receiving views in YouTube. He and his wife, Corkey Wallace, had one child, a daughter, Kylie Detwiler.[1]

In 2020, Detwiler announced that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He then was afflicted with pneumonia and suffered an aneurysm.[1] His last video was called New Tires For The Oliver 1600, which was posted on September 17, 2022.[9] Detwiler died from the aneurysm on September 21, 2022, in Urbana, Ohio, aged 52.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Traub, Alex (October 12, 2022). "Andy Detwiler, Armless Farmer Who Became a YouTube Star, Dies at 52". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Arora, Piyush (October 14, 2022). "Thomas Andrew Detwiler: Armless farmer and YouTube sensation dies of aneurysm at 52". Meaww. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Harmless Farmer – Andy Detwiler". YouTube. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Traub, Alex (October 12, 2022). "Andy Detwiler, armless farmer who became a YouTube star, dies at 52". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Double Amputee Meets Challenge". Springfield News-Sun. Springfield, Ohio. January 31, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved October 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  6. ^ a b Elliott, Ace (May 20, 1979). "Andy lives life to the fullest despite handicap". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. 25. Retrieved October 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  7. ^ "Handicapped Boy Subject Of Film". Springfield News-Sun. Springfield, Ohio. June 26, 1977. p. 47. Retrieved October 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  8. ^ Andy Detwiler (November 1, 2018). "Welcome to the Farm". YouTube. West Liberty, Ohio. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  9. ^ Andy Detwiler (September 17, 2022). "New Tires For The Oliver 1600". YouTube. Retrieved October 14, 2022.