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American Morning

Tourist Finds Himself in Tight Situation

Aired September 10, 2001 - 09:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this morning on the big island of Hawaii, where one man found himself in a rather tight situation, literally. now if you've ever gotten your hand caught in the cookie jar, you will know how this man felt.

Tina Shelton from affiliate KHON brings us the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TINA SHELTON, KHON REPORTER: The digit dilemma started after a security guard spotted the man standing helplessly near his car in the parking lot at the Alamana Shopping Center. Soon he was surrounded by puzzled authorities, who had never before came across a tourist with his finger in the tank. The visitor from China apparently intended to remove a smudge on the bumper of his rental car, and thought a shopping bag with a touch of gasoline on it might do the trick. Instead both the bag and his finger were stuck.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say that, again.

SHELTON: Communicating in different languages wasn't nearly as difficult is figuring out what to do. They tried a screwdriver. What about entering from the trunk? Or perhaps from under the car?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, no. No.

SHELTON: The tourist's English was good enough to establish a rapport with one firefighter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who is the president of the United States?

SHELTON: Well, it's not this guy. But the next exchange sure reminded the Americans of Bill Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can't feel your pain.

SHELTON: At one point, mechanics from Sears Automotive shop joined in the effort. The rental car company was summoned to bring in a similar Ford Taurus. And the master plan was devised: Use the jaws of life.

Carefully, they carved the gas tank chamber out of the car. But they quickly discovered the fuel line had to be shorter. So out came the jaws of life, again. And at this point decided putting a coat between the tourist eyes and the sharp steal jaws might prevent some understandable panic.

Finally, it came down to some old fashion tugging, with some hotel-sized shampoo and hand sanitizer poured in to ease the friction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right

(APPLAUSE)

SHELTON: Fortunately, the finger only bruised, leaving the Chinese visit able to shake the hands of the men who rescued him.

In Honolulu, I'm Tina Shelton, reporting for Fox News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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