Trapped hiker amputates own arm with pocketknife; rapels to safety

[ixnay]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/908232.asp?0cv=CB20

MOAB, Utah, May 2 — *Pinned by a boulder for five days and having run out of water, a climber amputated his own arm with a pocket knife, rappelled down a cliff and walked until rescuers found him.

RON RALSTON, 27, of Aspen, Colo., was in serious condition Friday at a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., following the ordeal Thursday. *Ralston was climbing Saturday in Blue John Canyon, adjacent to Canyonlands National Park in far southwestern Utah, when a 1,000-pound boulder fell on him, pinning his right arm, authorities said. *Initial reports said the boulder might have weighed 200 pounds, but rescuers who later went to the site said it weighed closer to 1,000 pounds.
* * * *
‘NO OTHER OPTION’
* * * *Sheriff’s Sgt. Mitch Vetere told NBC’s “Today” show that the team that went to the site concluded “he had no other option” but to cut off his arm because the air-based search team “wouldn’t have seen him from the air.”

* * * *Ralson was able to tell rescuers that he ran out of water on Tuesday, and on Thursday morning decided that his survival required drastic action. *Using his pocketknife, he amputated his arm below the elbow and applied a tourniquet and administered first aid. *He then rigged anchors, fixed a rope and rappelled 75 feet to the canyon floor. *He hiked downstream and was spotted about 3 p.m. by a Utah Public Safety Helicopter.
* * * *
ALL ‘HE WANTED WAS WATER’
* * * *The search for Ralston had begun the same morning, after authorities were notified he was four days overdue reporting for work. *Ralston was described by authorities as an avid outdoorsman in exceptional physical condition. They said he was known to have climbed 49 of Colorado’s major peaks. *Vetere, who led the air search, spotted Ralston with two hikers near a trail head. Ralston was then loaded into a helicopter for the 12-minute flight to a hospital. *Ralston was “thoroughly exhausted,” Vetere said. “The only thing he wanted was water.”

Wow. I'm impressed.

[Q Classic]

scratch rock climbing off list of things to do before i die.

[Boris Godunov]

Jesus Marimba!

That takes serious guts. Wow...

[Zero]

How the hell did he go thru the two bones in the forearm?

[SlowwHand]

I saw this. Talk about determination, and/or frustration.

[Bosh]

A pocketknife!!!

[Pekka]

I read about simular situation, pocket knife and self amputation from FHM.. Yeah like I really read that magazine.

[yavoon]

thats hardcore yo

[Lazerus]

Ouch hacking through bone with a small blade while trying to stop yourself going unconscious from the blood pouring out, thats some serious strength of mind and courage

[Pekka]

That's extreme hiking for you.

[alva]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I saw this. Talk about determination, and/or frustration.

Or thirst
-
If it would be for a beer I'd understand, but WATER
-

Seriously; pretty amazing stuff

[SlowwHand]

I'd be bearshit.
One has to know their limitations, and I don't see myself cutting off my arm with a pocket knife.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I'd be bearshit.
One has to know their limitations, and I don't see myself cutting off my arm with a pocket knife.

If it was a choice between that and death, I'd do it.

The problem is, once I did it, I'd probably just bleed to death anyway, as I have no idea how to fashion an adequate tournequette...

[Urban Ranger]

That is incredible. Not only he had to hack his arm off, but he had to stop the bleeding, and repel with one arm while in some serious pain.

Damn.

[Az]

You know, one has to honour his amazing courage, But one must also remind himself, that none of this would happen, if he would get some sort of a comms device with him.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


If it was a choice between that and death, I'd do it.

The problem is, once I did it, I'd probably just bleed to death anyway, as I have no idea how to fashion an adequate tournequette...

Imagine doing it one-handed.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Azazel
You know, one has to honour his amazing courage, But one must also remind himself, that none of this would happen, if he would get some sort of a comms device with him.

Nor if the dumb schmuck hadn't gone climbing alone.

[Az]

well, you can't always get someone to hike with you. but a comms device of sorts is very important.

Here in Israel, a cell phone will usually do just fine, but I don't know how's the network in the US. ( esp. in Moab, Utah. )

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Azazel
You know, one has to honour his amazing courage, But one must also remind himself, that none of this would happen, if he would get some sort of a comms device with him.

You'd need a sat phone though, because most other communication devices (such as mobile phones) won't work out in the wilderness.

[Lefty Scaevola]

The article is not very detatiled. It is possible the bones was alread broken by the accident, and that he did not have to saw through them.

[Az]

Thanks for the amazing imagery, Lefty.

[Lefty Scaevola]

I want that guy as one of my field commanders when i take over the world.

[Az]

You'll have to arrange some sort of a robotic arm for him, to complete the effect.

[SlowwHand]

It's more than a little ignorant to go alone, communication device or not.

[Az]

Yes, but with a comms device, it would've been understandable.

[SlowwHand]

Assuming it didn't break. Or fall out of reach. Or unconcious. Or,or,or.

[Az]

yeah, well, a partner wouldn't help him much, either, if they were both stuck in the middle of the desert with out comms.

"-Say, Larry, can you move that 5000 pound rock of my hand please?
- No problem, Steve!"

[SlowwHand]

He could bring authorities to remove the body.

[Az]

Not if they're miles away from the nearest phone.

[St Leo]

This is evolution in action.;-P