Trapped climber cuts own arm

[Guest HBK16]

As horrendous as it sounds, Aron Ralston had no choice but to amputate his own arm with a pocketknife. Last Saturday, the 27-year-old Colorado resident was climbing in Blue John Canyon, Utah, which is adjacent to Canyonlands National Park in the far southwestern part of the state, when a 1,000-pound boulder fell on him. His arm was pinned under the boulder. Ralston ran out of water on Tuesday. By Thursday, he knew he had to do something drastic to free himself if he wanted to stay alive. The Associated Press reports that Ralston used his pocketknife to amputate his arm below the elbow, applied a tourniquet, and administered first aid. He then rigged anchors, fixed a rope, and rappelled to the canyon floor. While he was hiking downstream to safety, searchers in a helicopter found him. They started looking for him on Thursday morning after his employer reported him missing. One of the rescuers, Sgt. Mitch Vetere, told NBC's "Today" show on Friday that Ralston had no other choice if he wanted to survive. Had he stayed pinned under the boulder, rescuers never would have seen him from the air.

 

 

I gotta give that man some serious props. I would have never ever done that to free myself. I wonder how big the knife was.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

That's why I always stay in my house...

[Guest Galactic Gigolo]

It would've been funny had he amputated his arm, bandaged it up, and then right away, someone stumbles upon him to rescue him

 

And most importantly, did he stick a chairsaw in there?

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

Note to self: Don't go canyon climbing in Utah.

 

At least not without my trusty knife.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

The guy has balls. I think I'd have to be a minute away from death before I could do that.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I gotta give that man some serious props. I would have never ever done that to free myself. I wonder how big the knife was.

He probably would of said the same thing, amazing how an arm doesn't seem as important when your life is on the line.

[Guest HBK16]

Thats probly true but I would have just passed out half way and bled to death so I would have died either way.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I would of avoided rock climbing in the first place.

[Guest HBK16]

Im a bit on the daring side but I wouldnt rock climb. I have sky dived before though.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

What's that like. I'd do it, but I'd always be worried I wouldn't pull the cord in time, or it wouldn't open.

[Guest Eagan469]

OUCH that had to hurt!

[Guest HBK16]

What's that like. I'd do it, but I'd always be worried I wouldn't pull the cord in time, or it wouldn't open.

Well in your first jump you always have an instructor jumping with you. He is strapped on your back. So even if you passed out he would pull it for you. Its more safe than you think. You usually freefall for about 60 seconds and then glide down for like 5 minute depending on where you go and your altitude. Its a thrill though.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

That my friends, is the manliest man to ever fuckin exist. "I'll chop off my own arm with a pocket knife, I don't give a fuck i got bitches to use" You know thats what he was thinking. Anyone who chops off their own arm with a POCKET KNIFE has to get the ladies.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

"That my friends, is the manliest man to ever fuckin exist."

 

I disagree. The manliest man ever to exist would have to be someone in a similar situation with the only difference being that his johnson would be the limb in peril.

 

Of course he wouldn't be too manly after that amputation...

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

When I first heard about this, the first thing that came to mind was "How did he get through the bone?"

 

Either the boulder totally pulverized his arm, resulting in several compound fractures leaving his arm held together with sinew and flesh, or else he went buckwild and switched to the sorry-ass saw blade that comes in swiss army knives. What really trips me out is how he avoided going into shock during this process.

[Guest SweetNSexyDiva]

I would have just died... The thought of cutting myself makes me nauseated... Can you imagine the blood?

[Guest treble charged]

I read that they were only a few hours away from finding him, most likely, since they had found his missing car that had maps and such saying where he would be going.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

I'd be overly screwed once I hacked my arm off since I would have no clue about how to stop the bleeding except for running out of blood to bleed.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Press reports that Ralston used his pocketknife to amputate his arm below the elbow, applied a tourniquet, and administered first aid

 

I just noticed this. You know, if he only had his hand and forearm trapped, he probably could've yanked it out from under there. It would've torn him to shreds, but he'd still have an arm.