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Armless farmer who became YouTube star dies aged 52
Featured Image Credit: Harmless Farmer - Andy Detwiler/YouTube

Armless farmer who became YouTube star dies aged 52

He became a YouTube sensation as a farmer with no arms but Andy Detwiler has sadly died aged 52.

A popular YouTuber who ran a farm of his own despite having no arms has sadly passed away aged 52 after suffering from an aneurysm.

Going by the name of 'Harmless Farmer' on YouTube, Andy Detwiler racked up over 133,000 subscribers on YouTube and his most popular videos gained millions of views.

In his videos, he showed himself living his life on the farm in Urbana, Ohio, and showing that, despite having no arms, he could do anything he needed to run the place.

Andy's death was announced by his wife Corkey and daughter Kylie on his YouTube channel, with his family explaining that the farmer and popular YouTuber had passed away on 21 September.

The farmer had already been receiving treatment for oesophageal cancer when, according to his family, he started 'breathing funny' and had to go to hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and low sugar levels.

Hospital staff were initially able to help him but he later gasped in pain and struggled to breathe, with doctors deciding it would be best to send him to a bigger hospital equipped to deal with his condition.

However, he sadly 'crashed' before he could be moved into an ambulance and while staff were able to briefly stabilise him again he died soon afterwards.

Andy was able to drive a tractor around his farm with his feet.
Harmless Farmer - Andy Detwiler/YouTube

The family also showed a video which Andy had been working on and had been ready to go on the day of his death, showing the farmer driving around in his tractor.

Andy started his YouTube channel in 2018 after his wife and daughter suggested he try posting videos of himself working on the farm as a way of bringing in a bit of extra money.

The decision turned out to be a huge success as people loved watching Andy put his feet to good use around the farm.

Andy Detwiler was able to run his farm without arms, using his feet for many tasks.
Harmless Farmer - Andy Detwiler/YouTube

According to the New York Times, Andy lost his arms when he was just a two-year-old after putting his arms into a grain auger.

The machine is a drill-like piece of farming equipment which puts produce from a truck into a storage bin.

Young Andy saw his grandad Bick using the machine, who occasionally his hands in to test the moisture of the wheat, and tried to copy what he was seeing, but fell into it and lost his arms.

As an adult he learned how to run a 300 acre part of his family's farm, using his toes, teeth, chin and shoulder to do all the jobs most people would assume require a pair of hands to do.

Andy could drive a tractor, feed animals, build his own farm equipment and shoot a shotgun while also forging a successful career as a YouTuber with some help from his family.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677 

Topics: YouTube, US News