When he reached his first trap and started pulling up his catch, a huge wave hit the boat, creating a slack in the rope which then spooled around the drum. A veteran fisherman, Doug knew to turn off the drum's motor and untangle the rope, but as he reached in to turn it off, the sleeve of his oilskin got caught in the winch. Within seconds the winch had taken hold of his hand and his arm, breaking every bone as it consumed him. The only way for Doug to free himself from the deadly grip was to cut off his own arm. Thinking about his wife, Rebecca, and his two daughters, Amanda and Tabitha, and about needing to survive for them, Doug grabbed the twine knife he kept near the hauler and began to saw off his right arm.