I've never seen a strut rod separate, though I have seen gland nuts (the big one at the top end of the strut tube) loosen to the point of stripping the threads & coming apart. Sounds like your strut mount bearing may have separated though - is there any binding in the steering or grinding sound coming from the vicinity while turning the wheel? It'll be easy to tell once the car's jacked up, but for safety's sake do try to hook spring compressors on before completely unloading that wheel. I'm just not sure you'll have enough room to get them in between the strut tower & spring. Did you try taking a look at the top nut (in the engine compartment, not the 2 securing the strut mount but the big one in the middleof the mount) as you lift the car ( carefully - and from the passenger side - and without spectators - in the unlikely event that the spring liberates itself). If the strut mount bearing has separated, you'll see the nut & top of strut rod dropping through from the engine compartment side of the strut tower when the wheel leaves the ground. If that's the case, removing the strut should not be a life-threatening experience, the spring will still be retained.
Chris M, Dartmouth NS
90 780 Coupe, 84 244 Turbo, 83 245DL, 71 Mercedes 280SE