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Climber Who Cut Off His Arm Had No Choice

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Rocketman95, May 2, 2003.

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  1. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Uh, Ouch

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-05-01-climber-amputate_x.htm

    <B><font size=4>Colorado climber amputates pinned arm, hikes to safety</font></B>

    <I>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.
    </I>
     
    #1 Rocketman95, May 2, 2003
  2. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    :( :eek: That is a tough dude.
     
    #2 KingCheetah, May 2, 2003
  3. rockHEAD

    rockHEAD Member

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    uh, ouch is right... that is some serious stuff....

    cut off your own arm AND go back down the mountain?

    HARDCORE!
     
    #3 rockHEAD, May 2, 2003
  4. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

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    Wow!

    How did he get the knife to go thru the bone?
    I guess he would have to do it at a joint...but still...

    :eek:
     
    #4 Rockets2K, May 2, 2003
  5. Vengeance

    Vengeance Member

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    I was just about to post this -- saw it on fark.

    HOLY CRAP this guy is a complete badass!
     
    #5 Vengeance, May 2, 2003
  6. Master Baiter

    Master Baiter Member

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    If he was in such great physical condition, why couldnt he move the 200 lbs rock? 200 lbs is a lot but it isnt like it is a 2 ton rock. Anyway, that definitely does not take away from the badassness of his cutting his own damn arm off. Absolutely amazing.
     
    #6 Master Baiter, May 2, 2003
  7. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Big whoop...Dr. Romano got his arm cut off near the shoulder by a helicopter rutter!
     
    #7 A-Train, May 2, 2003
  8. Behad

    Behad Member

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    Rotor.

    Carry on.
     
    #8 Behad, May 2, 2003
  9. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    I say rutter, you say rotor...let's call the whole thing off. :)
     
    #9 A-Train, May 2, 2003
  10. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    That's a good point. Maybe it had to do with the position he was trapped in.
     
    #10 pgabriel, May 2, 2003
  11. Behad

    Behad Member

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    Yeah, but don't say "off" to Romano...
     
    #11 Behad, May 2, 2003
  12. rezdawg

    rezdawg Member

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    Holy crap. Thats nuts. How does a pocketknife cut an arm off? Thats like saying a doctor does eye surgery with a toothpick.
     
    #12 rezdawg, May 2, 2003
  13. Mrs. JB

    Mrs. JB Member

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    It probably pinned him in an awkward position. 200lbs isn't too much when you can put your entire body behind it and push, but with his arm pinned, he wouldn't have been able to get any leverage.

    Regardless, this man is one crazy badass son of a b****.
     
    #13 Mrs. JB, May 2, 2003
  14. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
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    Think of how hard it would be to make a tourniquet and apply first aide with just one arm.
     
    #14 RunninRaven, May 2, 2003
  15. mr_gootan

    mr_gootan Member

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    [​IMG]

    "Yeah, but can he get a hole-in-one?" - Larry Alford
     
    #15 mr_gootan, May 2, 2003
  16. Sonny

    Sonny Member

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    That's the guy that got his arm stolen right? I used to van pool with a guy that is good friends with him.
     
    #16 Sonny, May 2, 2003
  17. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    OUCH...that is so crazy...cut it off with a POCKET KNIFE?!! :eek:

    Ewww.....ouch....thump.

    One hell of a man to do that...
     
    #17 Uprising, May 2, 2003
  18. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    You've got no arm!!

    Yes I have.

    No you haven't.

    Tis' meerely a fleshwound!
     
    #18 ima_drummer2k, May 2, 2003
  19. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    I wonder if he had to do any chewing?
     
    #19 Pole, May 2, 2003
  20. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

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    I love that whole scene drummer2k...

    :D
     
    #20 Rockets2K, May 2, 2003
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