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moabbeth
May 2, 2003, 5:43 AM
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Via the Assoc. Press. Holy crap!!!!! Colorado climber amputates pinned arm, hikes to safety MOAB, Utah (AP) — A Colorado climber amputated his own arm Thursday, five days after becoming pinned by a boulder, and he was hiking to safety when he was spotted by searchers, authorities said. Aron Ralston, 27, of Aspen, was in serious condition late Thursday at a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. Ralston was climbing Saturday in Blue John Canyon, adjacent to Canyonlands National Park in far southwestern Utah, when a 200-pound boulder fell on him, pinning his right arm, authorities said. He ran out of water on Tuesday and on Thursday morning, he 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 to the canyon floor. He hiked downstream and was spotted about 3 p.m. by a Utah Public Safety Helicopter. 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.
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zacrobinson
May 2, 2003, 5:49 AM
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wow. that is ballsy
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epic_ed
May 2, 2003, 5:55 AM
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No sh!t? That is one hard core mother. I'm not certain that is physically possible to amputate your own arm without going in to shock from blood loss. Not to mention the pain factor. Not that I'm doubting Beth (I think you're a reporter, correct?). Coming from any other source, I might be more suspicious. Ed
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tori
May 2, 2003, 6:06 AM
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there is a link in the other thread here on rc.com about this.
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cynic
May 2, 2003, 6:11 AM
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Excluding the pain factor, the article does indicate that he applied a tourniquet, so bleeding to death at least wouldn't have been a factor. But to be able to do that and then rig a rappell and hike out takes some major balls!!! :shock: :shock: here's the cnn.com link for those interested: http://www.cnn.com/...tation.ap/index.html
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elvislegs
May 2, 2003, 6:20 AM
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Oh man! that is a decision I hope I never have to make. Can you imagine sitting there going. *Hmmm, Well, nobody knows where I'm at. I haven't had a drink for two and a half days, I can't free my arm. I will be too tired to do it soon. Now or never I guess.* I imagine that the first cut had to be the most difficult to make. DAMN! props to that guy for living.
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psych
May 2, 2003, 6:37 AM
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I can say, without any doubt in my mind, that I would be incapable of doing this to myself. No way...the mental aspect alone of slowly and painfully sawing off your own arm, screw that, I'd bite down hard on my official CIA cyanide fake tooth! Ha HA! Mike...
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onelung
May 2, 2003, 6:45 AM
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He met the devil and danced with her. Yea I never want to be there. But I know it can aways come. Props to him, tonight I broke out my best scotch. What a guy! I am Bill Generally speaking....
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kungfuclimber
May 2, 2003, 6:54 AM
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Way back when I was in highschool, one of my teachers was an ex-paramedic. He was the guy in charge of the outdoors program (camping and such) and had worked several years as a SAR crewman. So one day while we're discussing equipment the subject turns to knives. He pulls out this wicked looking blade (a bit curved inwards) and proceeds to tell us that he keeps it extremely sharp. Of course we ask why: it was his amputation knife. He had used it before in the field to amputate a leg at the knee. He described the motion: you push the blade into the side of the joint and cut deep all around the joint (like a ring). According to him one such cut and a few snips was enough to free the limb. So amputation in the field is not necessarily "sawing your limb off". With that said I'm not sure I'd have the balls to pull that off. Then again, after nearly a week of having my arm crushed under a boulder and contemplating my impending death, I'd probably try to do something about it. When you think about it, his arm was probably going to get amputated anyway since it would've turned necrotic by then. Yep, smart guy with balls of kryptonite.
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apollodorus
May 2, 2003, 6:58 AM
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In reply to: I'd bite down hard on my official CIA cyanide fake tooth! Ha HA!
In reply to: Props to him, tonight I broke out my best scotch. What a guy! It's kinda sick and depraved to whoo-hoo another person's misfortune. Maybe these two meant something else, but it sure sounded like they think it was some sort of MTV Jackass stunt. It wasn't. "There go ye, but for the grace of God."
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onelung
May 2, 2003, 7:08 AM
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For clearity to any mtv watching chumps. I repeat, This fella met the devil and lived. My hat is off to him. Please leave me alone while I enjoy a fantastic scotch and consider what this unfortunate fellow went thru. No I would never give up and die.....I will fight with every thing I have...He did.......now to the Talisker. I am Bill
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glockaroo
May 2, 2003, 1:55 PM
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Amputating the arm definitely elevates the climbing to A4d. Without the amputation it would only be A1b. "It's all A1 until you cut off your arm..." Disclaimer: the above snide remarks are aimed not at the courageous soloist from Colorado, but at the poor misfits who gauge their self-worth and the worth of others based on climbing ratings.
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ram
May 2, 2003, 2:50 PM
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Here is his picture, http://www.msnbc.com/news/908232.asp?cp1=1
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russman
May 2, 2003, 3:03 PM
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This Thread is posted many times, please reply to this THREAD
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