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Losing 8-metre talons robbed woman of ‘identity’

Thursday, 3 September 2009

Lee Redmond with her record-breaking nails before the crash

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A woman who until recently held the world record for her eight metre-plus fingernails has spoken of the car crash that robbed her of the impressive talons and her “identity”.

Lee Redmond, of Salt Lake City, Utah, had grown her nails for 30 years when the accident happened in February this year.

Speaking publicly for the first time since then, Ms Redmond said it was “the most dramatic” event in her life, but added: “There’s more to life than nails”.

The 68-year-old great-grandmother had nurtured her nails to a combined length of 8.65 metres (28ft 4in). She currently has 11.5cm (4.5in) of nails and said she has no intention of growing them back to their former glory.

To coincide with the launch of the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records, she spoke of her life since the crash.

She said: “Losing my fingernails has been the most dramatic thing that’s happened in my life. I think it was my grandson that said, ‘Grandma, they are like your baby; you’ve taken care of them for 30 years and lost them in a second’. But then when you think about it, you know our whole life could end in a second, not just part of the body, but your whole life.”

To coincide with the interview, Guinness World Records is including a picture of Ms Redmond taken just three months before the crash in its latest edition.

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22 Comments

After all that stress her compensation claim would have been a cracker.....

Posted by Simon | 06.09.09, 15:32 GMT

Why did she do this? Why Why Why?

Posted by sheikyertailfeather | 04.09.09, 21:13 GMT

I don't think it's that out of sorts. She found a unique way to become recognized by society and clung to it. She didn't want to be like...all of you and work for 40 hours a week until she died and never be noticed.

Posted by b&t | 04.09.09, 20:38 GMT

That's sad the people need to go to that extreme to feel important or special. I suppose they don't have Guiness World Records for the most volunteer hours or greatest single contribution to agriculture feeding the most starving people, then again I suppose I'm an idealist.

Posted by Adam | 04.09.09, 19:18 GMT

S, please do not lump all women in with her... this is just a PERSON with a lot of time and no responibilities...

Posted by M | 04.09.09, 15:29 GMT

It was time she got them cut.

Posted by Serge | 04.09.09, 14:49 GMT

This proves that women do not think like anyone on this planet. Just strange creatures.

Posted by S | 04.09.09, 13:46 GMT

I can't help wondering if those ugly claws caused the crash if she was driving?

Posted by Centaur | 04.09.09, 12:23 GMT

She didn't grow her nails she just didn't cut them. Why would anyone want to have a world record celebrating a lack of personal hygiene? I also can think of no job she could do successfully other than freak show exibit.

Posted by smcgall | 04.09.09, 11:37 GMT

So banshees really do exist.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 04.09.09, 09:46 GMT

why would you do this? yuck!

Posted by catherine | 04.09.09, 09:24 GMT

this ladies brains arent up to scratch,now the nails are gone she can get a life ,

Posted by w. gould | 04.09.09, 08:51 GMT

So, how does she do anything? Wipe? Cook? Laundry? nappies?

I think this may be the first time she has been in any way a useful member of society.

Nails that long scream "Useless!"

Posted by Brian | 04.09.09, 06:49 GMT

This is a non working Amerikan wow!

Posted by JSK | 04.09.09, 06:26 GMT

she can't even dress her self, let alone clean herself. what identity?!!!!!

Posted by j | 04.09.09, 06:16 GMT

Do the chickens have large talons?

Posted by Kyle | 04.09.09, 05:53 GMT

I guess the car crash "nailed" the right lady.

But I have to digress; how the hell does she eat, have sex, clean herself, or even sleep with that pair of heckuva nails?

Posted by Brando Medeiros | 04.09.09, 03:07 GMT