Death by cactus: a prickly situation in Arizona

Hot news from Arizona! No, Walt isn't talking about yesterday's Supreme Court decision. Looks to me as if that was pretty much a draw. The immigration mess isn't going to be sorted out by the courts. To do that will take a courageous politician with some real cojones -- not someone who's afraid of alienating the aliens!

No. Walt is referring to a sad story in the Yuma News. A city worker is in intensive care today after being crushed nearly to death by a 16-foot saguaro cactus.

Sounds like something out of a Warner Bros. cartoon, doesn't it? But it's true. William Mason, of Yuma, was responding to an emergency water leak -- whether out of the cactus or elsewhere is not clear -- when he was struck by the spiny plant. His colleagues were able to free him and call emergency services after the freak accident. At least they're calling it an accident! Who knows for sure?

Saguaro cacti, common in the US south-west, can weigh thousands of pounds, depending on how much water they hold. Yuma city officials say Mr Mason remains in hospital after suffering serious injuries, including to his back and legs. Doctors have removed about 150 spines from his body...so far.