Man Pulls Co-Worker From a Vat of Acid: Could You Do It?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/05/08 13:00:00

Related Topics: Acid, Rob Nuckols, martin davis, VAT, jumped in, Hospital, Roof, New Jersey, Workers

258 votes
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	Yes	142 votes	55%
	No	116 votes	45%

There are a few moments that people can truly call "life-defining," but for 51-year-old Rob Nuckols, an employee at a roofing company in Clifton, New Jersey, one of those moments happened at 8:40 a.m. on Monday. One of his co-workers, 44-year-old Martin Davis, fell 40-feet through the roof of a high alloy tubing production facility, into a vat filled with a solution of nitric acid. Davis was fully submerged in the solution, and unable to get himself out. Nuckols made the split decision to climb in and help him.

According to NorthJersey.com, initial reports said Nuckols jumped into the vat to save Davis, but later reports claim three other roofers (Rob Fulton, 24; Joe Dabowski, 45; William Walker, in his 20s) helped him. Lucky for everyone, the acid was somewhat diluted, but Davis' brother John said, "They have [Martin] on a breathing apparatus and he's in critical condition. His condition is not so good. But he's a young guy. He'll pull through." Nuckols is being treated for burns on his legs and abdomen, while the other three were taken to the hospital with "irritation on their hands and arms."

A "nitric/hydrofluoric acid pickle and passivate" tank at Swepco Tube LLC, where Davis fell.

+12

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Kibelle 2012/05/08 16:28:15

No

+7
I'll probably be too scared to actually do anything.

The world needs more people like Rob Nuckols around. Cheers for him and the co-worker he had saved!
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More polls by SodaHead News

banshee... to Wyveryx 2012/05/10 05:42:15

+1
i only wish i would have the courage to act in a situation like that

reply
Depsycho 2012/05/09 05:44:18

Yes

I would WANT to. Although in reality, I'd probably panic and look for help. But regardless of what would happen, I DON'T want to find out... brave guy, I'll say.

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Marianne723 2012/05/09 05:42:19

Yes

+1
I really don't know. No one knows until the situation is at hand. I once jumped in deep water(pit was 20-30 foot deep) and saved my niece. It didn't scare me until it was all over. I CAN"T SWIM....but adrenaline took over and allowed me to do it.

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oros 2012/05/09 05:36:05

No

+2
Wish I could say yes but first instinct says no.

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S123 2012/05/09 05:20:19

No

+2
I don't know what I would do.

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TC1116 2012/05/09 04:52:41

No

+1
Most other people saying "yes" are lying and saying what they and other people would "like" to believe they could do. I would say, out of the 100+ who lie and say that they could, only about 2% of those may really do it, if it came up. Seeing as how I don't work around vats of acid, I couldn't "really" say for myself.

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S123 to TC1116 2012/05/09 05:26:37

+1
"other people would "like" to believe they could do" I see that some people said that or said that they wern't sure, but as usual, SH dosn't have an "Undecided" or "Other" option.

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TC1116 to S123 2012/05/11 21:31:45

True. We would all like to believe that we would do the great and heroic thing...but, you really never know until the moment arises.

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Mantic to TC1116 2012/05/09 17:09:15

Funny thing is, put in the actual situation... some of the folks answering "no" might find themselves wading in acid and wondering "What the heck am I doing????"

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exhon2009 2012/05/09 04:34:33

No

+2
Another stupid sodahead question. There should be an uncertain answer here. A vat of acid may not appear as intimidating as a raging house fire and I applaud the co-worker that went in to save the man but I don't think anyone can be sure how they will react unless they are actually confronted with the crisis.

I hope I could have done the same but I was at the scene of a house fire that killed five people. There were plenty of people that wanted to help including me but the house was fully engulfed. Turned out that a molotov cocktail through the front window started the fire.

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(▪‿▪)DoctorWhoGuru(▪‿▪) 2012/05/09 04:32:54

No

+2
Maybe I don't know

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bluelady 2012/05/09 04:08:45

Yes

at least I would hope I would do the right thing

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tom C 2012/05/09 03:59:05 (edited)

Yes

+1
but like this guy ,you need to know what you are gettting into....

How dilluted was the nitric acid......?

Something like 95% hydrochloric acid....no...
You would quickly become another VICTIM in this incident....

Citric acid...yes....its added to Coke sodas, the ph of coca-cola is about 4.0ph...

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meme14 2012/05/09 03:40:11

Yes

+1
I would like to think I would - but the truth is I am not sure. It's hard to know how you would react - It's kind of like that saying, "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only thing left to do". I think the same things applies to being brave. But, definitely Rob Nuckols is an actual hero - sometimes that word gets diluted and in the process the meaning gets devalued...he is a true hero.

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snell/GOD & COUNTRY-zero cl... 2012/05/09 02:59:55 (edited)

Yes

+2
....not sure. You need that option because NO ONE knows until they're presented the situation.

That man not only deserves ALL his medical PIF - but full benefits and retirement severance pkg w/o ANY strings attached.

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KABSTER 2012/05/09 02:34:04

Yes

+1
I have saved a few lives and prevented a few crimes in my life. You just have to. There is no thinking it's just impulse and reactions.

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JJ 2012/05/09 02:25:52

Yes

+1
I am saying yes because I hope I would do such a thing in a split second, but not totaly sure unless I was in that position. I know for a fact, that generally you will do something like that when you don't have time to think about it, you just do it. I have had a couple of instances happen where I did do something quickley without thinking because it was an emergency, but nothing like jumping in acid.

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Patriot Unit 2012/05/09 02:23:48

Yes

+2
If it meant saving that persons life I worked around industrial Acids when 17 to 18. I always wondered if a coworker would do the same for me if I fell into on of the tanks.

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FrozenHeart 2012/05/09 02:21:41

No

+1
I wish I could but I'd probaly be scared.

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Andy 2012/05/09 02:19:31

Yes

+2
I would do what I could to help him out!!

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Ian 2012/05/09 02:17:38

Yes

I actually don't know if I could do it, but Rob, Joe and William are heroes!

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caius madison 2012/05/09 02:05:14

Yes

+1
I suffered large body burn before, no one should feel that pain. Or go through the dispair of seeing themselves deformed in this manner. Kudos to the co workers too.

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Firefly 2012/05/09 01:43:48

Yes

+1
~ Healing Prayers to ALL ~

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Rod 2012/05/09 01:34:39

No

I'm too much of a coward.

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Ann Nowlin 2012/05/09 01:28:40

Yes

+1
You almost have to!!

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snell/G... to Ann Nowlin 2012/05/09 03:01:55

.....true, instinct.

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Couri 2012/05/09 01:26:07

Yes

If it was a loved one I would not hesitate. A complete stranger may be another story, you never know until you are in that situation.

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DP 2012/05/09 01:04:03

No

I'm not going to lie and say that I would because I wouldn't. I am a heartless b*stard and don't really care about anyone save myself. Congratulations to this man for having the balls to do something that I wouldn't.

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Sterling 2012/05/09 00:44:25 (edited)

Yes

+2
I'd like to think so, I don't think you can really know until you're in the situation.

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the judgebigdogeagle 2012/05/08 23:57:57

No

That word acid scares the crap out of me. Burning car No Problem.But I live refineries & when the alalrms go off cause of acid. It scares. I would on the side line ready to grab to safety.

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Christopher Kirchen 2012/05/08 23:37:42

No

I have to admit, I couldn't do it. The pain involved would be too much even for me.

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hasher 2012/05/08 23:08:56

Yes

i would try to do whatever i could to save someones life.

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hasher to hasher 2012/05/08 23:09:27

thats just the way i roll

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Michael S Smith 2012/05/08 23:07:25

No

Well honestly I am not sure

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Andre 2012/05/08 23:02:55

Yes

Those are moments when you do not think or reason but act

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NarcolepticGoat 2012/05/08 22:40:52

No

Jump in acid? I seriously doubt it. Reach in? Maybe, I don't want to find out!

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Stef and the City 2012/05/08 22:35:57

No

+2
I'd love to be able to say yes but honestly, I don't know if I could do it unless of course it was a family member (one that I actually like, just kidding) or a child.

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spike66 2012/05/08 22:32:48

No

+1
Umm sorry dude.....I'll find u a nice rope and pull ur dumbass out though.

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Aquaduck 2012/05/08 22:16:38

No

+1
At least I'm honest. Plus, if i ever tried to save somebody, unless it was little kid, we'd both probably die.

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Rubyking 2012/05/08 22:13:27

No

I'm too busy being alive

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