Jigsaw, not a jigsaw puzzle

f coThe Herald reports:

“At the end of 2008, following another personal crisis, and while not being fully compliant with his medication, he spiralled into another episode of depression. He experienced significant insomnia and suicidal ideation, and ruminated for days about cutting off his fingers.

“In an effort to seek reprieve from these thoughts, he tied a shoelace around his [little] finger to act as a tourniquet and cut the finger off with a jigsaw.

When I first read this I automatically took jigsaw to mean jigsaw puzzle, and was wondering how one could cut your finger off with pieces from a jigsaw.

Upon reflection, of course they mean a literal jigsaw. Ouch. That would hurt.

“He then cooked it in a pan with some vegetables and ate its flesh. His plan was to amputate another two fingers the following day.

At some stage one would have to stop, unless you could operate the jigsaw with your toes.

“Mr X reported initial excitement – non-sexual – and a sense of relief from his ruminations. Given the instantaneous benefit, he felt that there was no point in cutting off any more fingers.”

I’m not sure I’d call it a benefit, but I’m glad he stopped.