Hiker impaled by metre-long pole, treks over 15 kilometres to avoid shelling out on helicopter rescue fee
‘’Tis but a flesh wound.’
WARNING: THIS ARTICLE SHOWS DISTRESSING IMAGES
A US healthcare worker has revealed the shocking six-hour journey he made through Montanna’s Beartooth Mountains, all the while impaled with a trekking pole through his torso.
David Cifaldi and his two friends were crossing the Froze-to-Death Plateau, a notoriously icy stretch on the way to Granite Peak, when the 112cm pole punctured him under his left arm through his back.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The 32-year-old nurse told the Associated Press that he did not experience much pain or blood, so the group ultimately decided to brave the trek down the mountain unassisted.
“I was like, ‘We’ve got to get off this mountain.’ And they’re both like, ‘I don’t know about that,’” Mr Cifaldi recalled of his friends’ reaction.
“I’m pretty confident this is outside my chest wall. ’Tis but a flesh wound.”
A rescue team tracked the group’s progress down the mountain, with leader Ty William telling the publication that it was ultimately Mr Cifaldi’s decision to return unassisted.
“There was no danger to anybody else. He didn’t want our help and so we’re not going to essentially violate his rights or go against his wishes by forcing our help on him,” Mr Williams said.
The journey took six hours, descending over 1,500 metres down an unmarked path, until the group finally reached their truck.
“The only reason it was possible at all was his confidence,” Mr Cifaldi’s friend Jesse Ross, told the news agency.
He continued: “Who are we to say anything? He’s the medical person. Our job is just to support at that point.”
Reflecting on his decision to trek back to safety without the aid of helicopter rescue, Mr Cifaldi said he did not regret his decision.
“I think 99 times out of 100 I would make the same decision,” he said.
“Search and rescue coming to help you is free. The flight’s not. That was a factor in me deciding to self-rescue.
“But the fact that I had two experienced, great friends with me and we had the ability to contact search and rescue if something went wrong made that a lot more of an easy decision.”
It just so happened that the hiker ended up at the hospital where he works, where doctors removed the pole and bandaged his wounds.
Originally published on PerthNow
