Eduardo Garcia miraculously survived being electrocuted and the horrific experience transformed his life. The chef and star of the documentary “Charged,” who lost his forearm, 4 ribs and his hand in the accident, joins The Doctors to share how he gained a new lease on life after nearly dying. Watch: Model Survives Being Drugged and Electrocuted
Full Answer
What happened to Eduardo Garcia left hand?
After a gruesome accident, over a dozen surgeries and an amputation that removed his left hand, chef Eduardo Garcia is back in the kitchen. Garcia, 38, was an up-and-coming yacht chef before his accident in 2011.
What happened to chef Eduardo Garcia after his accident?
After being electrocuted, chef Eduardo Garcia had to relearn the cooking techniques he was once so familiar with. After a gruesome accident, over a dozen surgeries and an amputation that removed his left hand, chef Eduardo Garcia is back in the kitchen.
What is Eduardo Garcia famous for?
Eduardo Garcia (born 1981) is an American celebrity chef and the co-founder of Montana Mex, a Mexican food company. He is known as the "bionic chef" because he cooks with a prosthetic left arm, the result of an accident while hunting in 2011. Eduardo Garcia was born in 1981.
What happened to the bionic chef Eduardo?
Chef Eduardo Garcia is thriving four years after a freak accident and a shocking diagnosis. A new documentary will tell his story. Eduardo Garcia, known as the “bionic chef”, has recovered from a terrifying near-death experience that left him with electrical burn scars and a hook for a left hand.
Where is Eduardo Garcia now?
Today, Eduardo Garcia is co-owner of Montana Mex, a company that produces sauces, including ketchup, barbecue, and habanero, seasonings that include jalapeño, sweet, and mild chile, and avocado oil. Getting back into the culinary world wasn't easy for Garcia, who had to relearn how to cook.
Who did Eduardo Garcia marry?
Dana Nicole BongiovanniDana Nicole Bongiovanni and Eduardo Garcia were married April 27 at the Queenship of Mary Church in Plainsboro, N.J. Msgr.
Where does Eduardo Garcia live in Montana?
As he recalled the conversation, Garcia, now 35, glanced at his bionic left arm and gazed out at the distant Bridger Mountains from the small second-story deck at the unfinished log home he now lives in near the mouth of the Gallatin Canyon.
Does Eduardo Garcia have a restaurant?
Chef Eduardo 'Lalo' García is one of the stars of Mexico City's diverse dining scene, with his restaurant Máximo Bistrot widely recognised for its unique brand of French-Mexican cuisine anchored in local and sustainable produce.
Are Eduardo Garcia and Jennifer Jane married?
During his time in the ICU, Jenny Jane stayed by his side. They were longtime friends and former lovers, having met on one of the yachts. They'd been through hard times in their relationship including cheating, lying and mistrust. Eduardo is now engaged and Jenny recently married, but they remain extremely close.
Who is Becca Skinner?
Becca Skinner is a photographer, writer and conservationist based in Bozeman, Montana. While studying social work at the University of Wyoming, she found a passion for telling stories about post-natural disaster communities and resiliency.
How did Eduardo Garcia get shocked by the bear?
Hunting accident On October 9, 2011, while bow-hunting elk in the Montana backcountry, Garcia came across the dry remains of a bear. Attempting to remove a claw with his knife, he received a severe electrical shock from a 2400-volt power line hidden underneath its carcass.
What happened to the one armed chef?
In 2011, whilst on foot patrol with the US 75th Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan, Duley stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He was severely injured, losing both legs and his left arm.
What happened to the chopped judges hand?
After 18 grueling surgeries over the course of 48 days, Eduardo faced his next big dilemma. Doctors told him that his left arm, which had been holding the knife when he was electrocuted, had become severely infected and required amputation. The procedure was done within a few days.
Is the movie charged based on a true story?
Critic Reviews for Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story This documentary about an adventurous hero is all the more inspiring because it is true. Charged never simplifies Eduardo's nature or the key relationships in his life.
Who is the chopped judge with hook hand?
Eduardo GarciaEduardo Garcia, known as the “bionic chef”, has recovered from a terrifying near-death experience that left him with electrical burn scars and a hook for a left hand.
Where is Montana Mex located?
Bozeman, MontanaMontana Mex is in Bozeman, Montana.
How did Eduardo Garcia get shocked by the bear?
Hunting accident On October 9, 2011, while bow-hunting elk in the Montana backcountry, Garcia came across the dry remains of a bear. Attempting to remove a claw with his knife, he received a severe electrical shock from a 2400-volt power line hidden underneath its carcass.
Where is Eduardo Garcia from?
Eduardo García is a Mexican chef and founder of Mexico City restaurants Máximo Bistrot and Lalo! He is often considered one of Mexico's top chefs.
What happened to the chopped judges hand?
After 18 grueling surgeries over the course of 48 days, Eduardo faced his next big dilemma. Doctors told him that his left arm, which had been holding the knife when he was electrocuted, had become severely infected and required amputation. The procedure was done within a few days.
What happened to the one arm chef?
In 2011, whilst on foot patrol with the US 75th Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan, Duley stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He was severely injured, losing both legs and his left arm.
What happened to Eduardo Garcia?
After a gruesome accident, over a dozen surgeries and an amputation that removed his left hand, chef Eduardo Garcia is back in the kitchen.
How many surgeries did Eduardo Garcia have?
After a bizarre accident, chef Eduardo Garcia underwent 18 surgeries, including an amputation. TODAY. Garcia said that he was brought to the University of Utah's burn trauma center, where the surgeon on call said, chillingly, that he was a "bag of bones with a heartbeat.". But he managed to survive the accident, undergoing 18 surgeries in 48 days.
Who was the chef that was electrocuted?
After being electrocuted, chef Eduardo Garcia had to relearn the cooking techniques he was once so familiar with. Tap to Unmute.
Where did Eduardo Garcia live?
He grew up in California and eventually settled in Montana after his mother moved the family and continued to be a member of Church Universal and Triumphant. As a youngster, Garcia was a rebel, stealing cigarettes and doing drugs by the time he was a teenager (via Montana Outlaw ). Eventually, Garcia changed his focus from illegal activity to more wholesome endeavors, like getting in touch with nature and cooking. In an interview with Whalebone Magazine, he recalls an early memory of connecting with the outdoors.
Who is Eduardo Garcia?
Eduardo Garcia is known not only for his cooking skills but also for his charitable endeavors. He is a sponsor, fundraiser, and advocate for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which serves to help people with physical challenges participate in athletics and remain physically fit. According to County 10 , Garcia also participates in Traeger Grills' charitable program, through which he sells Montana Mex products, and Big Sky Youth Empowerment, an organization that aims to help at-risk youth (via Montana Outlaw ).
What does Eduardo Garcia do in Montana?
Today, in addition to cooking with local ingredients, he relishes foraging, hunting, and gardening. Garcia's constant quest to achieve harmony with nature is an admirable feat for someone who was almost killed while traveling through the wilderness. At the opening of a Montana Outlaw article, the author finds Garcia tending to his raspberry bush, his right arm covered in scrapes. For the chef, it's all part of living with nature in Montana and searching for that sense of harmony. "I just get in there," Garcia said to Montana Outlaw. "You might get a little scratched up, but that's what Mother Nature's all about."
Who owns Montana Mex?
Today, Eduardo Garcia is co-owner of Montana Mex, a company that produces sauces, including ketchup, barbecue, and habanero, seasonings that include jalapeño, sweet, and mild chile, and avocado oil. Getting back into the culinary world wasn't easy for Garcia, who had to relearn how to cook. Despite the challenge, Garcia told Today that cooking has been an essential portion of his rehabilitation.
How does Eduardo Garcia describe his experience?
Garcia describes his experience in slow, precise words with the wisdom of a Taoist monk. “If it can be said that Eduardo Garcia is incredibly positive, think of it as a byproduct of incredible pain and sorrow. Like how you can bite your tongue on the best meal you’ve ever had.”
What was the biggest job that Garcia ever brokered?
Garcia embraces his work with the same kind of positive energy. He recounted one of his first breakthrough gigs, where he was hired as a chef for a high-end yacht, the largest job he’d ever brokered.
What does Garcia say in metaphor?
Garcia speaks in metaphors that float like a butterfly. They flutter throughout the conversation but always land on point with executed grace.
Who is the parishioner in Catch its Current?
Like a lot of us, wild spaces invigorate Garcia. It’s his church, and he’s a devout parishioner who regularly attends to (in his words, not ours) “catch its current.” Little did he know the lesson would be a totally different thing that day.
How does the power of his community and friendships contribute to his continued recovery?
The power of his community and friendships have contributed to his continued recovery. They keep him ground ed. So he ferociously protects his relationships.
Where did Eduardo Garcia grow up?
Eduardo Garcia was born in 1981, the son of a Mexican fisherman and chef father and an astrologer, Montessori Teacher and author mother. He grew up in Bozeman, Montana. Part-time job choices there are limited, so Garcia elected to work on the Chico Hot Springs ranch as a prep chef. After high school, Garcia went to college at The Art Institute of Seattle. During college, he worked at a Japanese cafe called Saitos.
When was the Eduardo Garcia documentary released?
In 2015 a Kickstarter campaign was used to fund a documentary feature film about Garcia. The resulting film, Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story, was released in 2018. Garcia has appeared on Chopped as a guest judge.
How far did Garcia walk?
By the time he found help, Garcia had walked three miles.
How many ways can Garcia grip?
The new hand is controlled by Garcia's forearm muscles and is capable of gripping 25 different ways. It allows him to perform tasks requiring a great deal of manual dexterity. The accident made him a more humble person and more willing to rely on other members of his team in the kitchen.
Is the Garcia hand waterproof?
In 2014, Garcia decided his five-fingered bionic hand was not ideal for cooking – it was not waterproof and got cut on several occasions – and switched to a bionic hook instead. "When you're cooking ... it's a dance almost," he explains. "With the hand I just didn't feel fluid, whereas with the hook ...
How many surgeries did Eduardo have?
It all came crashing down on October 9, 2011. Eduardo endured twenty one surgeries over two years. To add insult to injury, during his hospitalization Eduardo learned he had testicular cancer. So in addition to plastic surgery and everything else he had to go through chemotherapy.
What did Eduardo say about life?
But Eduardo exudes positivity. “We all have the power to choose our attitude” he told me. “Life is the greatest gift on Earth.”
What was Eduardo's job in Montana?
While in college Eduardo was offered the job as a chef on a yacht called Dorothea. He traveled the world for two and a half years on Dorothea, then worked on other yachts including one called Blind Date, owned by investor Peter Hochfelder, who became Executive Producer of the Charged film. He returned to Montana to start his cooking show and Montana Mex food brand of seasonings, sauces and cooking oils.
What does Eduardo say about growing up in Montana?
Growing up in Montana, he says, gave Eduardo a thick skin. “Life can be textured and tough anywhere, but the outdoor elements and extreme nature of the Montana seasons lends it to creating calloused individuals both inside and outside. If you are from Montana you have an affinity for the outdoors and engaging with Mother Nature, and this gives you toughness.”
How long was Eduardo in the ICU?
Eduardo was shattered. “I was a bag of bones” he says. He was airlifted to the burn center in Salt Lake City. “I spent forty eight days in the ICU. For the first five days I was fighting for my life.” On day nine doctors told him his left hand was infected and if left in place could kill him. He had to make the extreme choice to have his hand and forearm amputated. He also lost four ribs and several muscles in his torso, as well as a large part of his scalp.
Does Eduardo have a bionic hook?
Eduardo has a bionic hook. He was fitted at one time with a bionic hand but found he worked better with the hook. “I have superpowers” he says. “My hand never gets cut or burned, which can be an advantage for a chef.”
Who said "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"?
Eduardo Garcia is the living embodiment of the phrase “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Eduardo has endured levels of injury, pain and hardship that few people will ever experience.
How many volts did Eduardo Garcia have?
Eduardo Garcia, left, and Jenny Jane mourn the amputation of his left hand and forearm at a Salt Lake City hospital after Garcia was shocked with 2,400 volts of electricity in 2011. The doctor told Garcia, “It’s either limb or life.”
Who is Eduardo Garcia's business partner?
Eduardo Garcia, left, and his business partner and friend Jenny Jane are the subjects of a new documentary film, “Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Documentary.”
How long did Eduardo Garcia stay in the ICU?
The story of his recovery, which included 48 days in the burn trauma ICU at University Hospital in Salt Lake City, will be told in the upcoming documentary film, “Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Documentary.” A Kickstarter campaign was launched to help fund the film. So far there are 591 backers pledging $107,275 of the requested $150,000. The campaign expires at 12:54 p.m. on Oct. 3. The film is expected to be finished in 2016.
Where did Eduardo Garcia find the mummified bear?
When Eduardo Garcia spotted what he described as a mummified bear in the Paradise Valley, he made a life-changing decision.
What hand does Eduardo Garcia have?
For those who are familiar with the chef and his work, you've likely noticed that Eduardo is missing his left hand, something that has earned him the title of the "bionic chef" thanks to the bionic arm that replaced his original extremity.
What helped Eduardo overcome his mental and physical strife?
Against all odds, Eduardo managed to develop new methods for working with tools in the kitchen and attributes his will to continue being a chef as the thing that helped him overcome his mental and physical strife the most.
What show did Eduardo do?
That status landed him a job as one of the judges on the Ted Allen -hosted show Chopped: Playing With Fire.
How long did it take Eduardo to get amputation?
The procedure was done within a few days .
What company does Eduardo have?
As he worked through his recovery, Eduardo became the proud owner of a food company called Montana Mex, which makes and distributes various sauces, spices, and oils for cooking.
Did Eduardo lose his hand?
Although it's clear that Eduardo lost his hand at one point, what exactly was the situation that brought about that tragic circumstance, and how did this experience impact his career? Keep reading for all of the known details surrounding the "bionic chef" and his noteworthy story.
Overview
Early life
Eduardo Garcia was born in 1981. His father was a fisherman and chef, and his mother was an astrologer, Montessori teacher and author. He grew up in Bozeman, Montana and worked on the Chico Hot Springs ranch as a prep chef. After high school, Garcia attended The Art Institute of Seattle. During college, he worked at a Japanese cafe called Saitos.
Career
While in college, Garcia was offered a job as chef of a 107-foot yacht called Dorothea. He accepted and, upon graduation, spent two and half years aboard the ship. From there, he spent the next decade working as a chef on various private yachts. His job allowed him to travel the world, learning about different ethnic cuisines along the way.
Garcia co-founded Montana Mex, a Mexican-inspired line of flavored salts, salsas and hot sauce…
Media attention
In September 2013, Garcia's story was featured on The Huffington Post. In November, he was profiled by People magazine. In December, he appeared on Good Morning America and his story was featured in Fox News Latino. In January 2014, he appeared on The Chew In May, he appeared on Katie.
Garcia has also appeared on Hallmark Channel’s "Home & Family" and his recipes have appeare…
Personal life
Garcia is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He enjoys hiking, surfing, and skate boarding. He has volunteered with the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Common Threads, a program that teaches children in under privileged communities how to cook healthy meals.
External links
• Eduardo Garcia on Facebook
• Montana Mex homepage