[kerelybonto]

Dunno, but this is -- Will to live: Climber cuts off arm to save himself.

I mean, Jesus, with a pocket knife? ...

kerely

 

[raymondlin]

well, he's alive to tell the tale, so he's done the righ thing. Massive Respect to the guy, not only survive the whole incident, but the fact that he did it without any medication and imagine cutting your own arm off piece by piece slowly and had to watch it too.

 

[wallijonn]

always carry a cell phone AND a spare battery. always carry a walkie talkie and a mirror (for signalling) and flares.

 

[Braver]

wow, cut his arm off, climbed down, and walked a couple of miles, and then got rescued...

I would've passed out long before... I mean, all the way though bones and all with a pocket knive... *faints*

 

[kerelybonto]

How the hell do you even cut through bone with a pocket knife? I want to know what kind of knife that was -- the manufacturer should use him in their ads.

kerely

 

[Tim]

Quote:

Originally posted by kerelybonto How the hell do you even cut through bone with a pocket knife? I want to know what kind of knife that was -- the manufacturer should use him in their ads. kerely

Hehe. I can see it now... 'Knives so sharp you can cut your own arm off!!'

 

[rickcr42]

I just want to know the make of the knife so i can get one

Maybe one of those ginzu knives - the ones they used to advertise that would cut through anything (not sold in stores but if you order now.....) but butter

 

[stymie miasma]

As wallijohn implied, I wonder what this guy was carrying in the way of emergency communication. Even though he was only planning on a day-trip, surely a mobile phone would be the minimum safety net - although in a canyoning situation, reception would probably be medicore at best.

Low-tech stuff like mirrors/whistles are good, so long as there is someone close by to hear/see you.

With regard the pocket knife, I wonder whether the Swiss Army knives that come with a small saw (serated teeth) would be sufficient to cut through bone. Oh the pain...

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

I think that's referred to as "testicular fortitude"

he's a hero in my mind!

 

[RacerX]

No use giving advice after the fact, the dude's arm is already off! Besides, he doesn't sound like the kinda guy to read the Head-Fi boards. Also, I read in the LA Times today that this guy is a very experienced climber and mountaineer, having ascended many of Colorado's 14,000 ft peak solo and in wintertime. He sure has some cojones.

Which brings me to my question: what headphones would you want to use to drown out your cries as you slowly slice through your arm? I'd prolly go with a closed can like the HD280. But I'd want lots of bass to make sure I couldnt hear the slicing. Still, the 280 might be kinda bulky for hiking. Opinions?

 

[myself, aka me]

I imagine he sliced through the ligaments, not the bone. What would irk me apart from the PAIN would be seeing my arm lying there, limp. Bloody hell!

 

[ServinginEcuador]

My guess is that he wrapped the tourniquet first, let the feeling and circulation go first, then with a lot less pain cut off what remained of his arm. Two days of having that boulder crush the life out of his arm might have helped with the deadening of some pain. While still painful these steps would have lessenned the pain a bit by all but killing the part of his arm that was left and reducing the bleeding also.

Brave as can be, and a bold move that saved his life, but with his engineering background I'm sure he figured out what he had to do and went about it methodically as possible. My hat's off to this guy for what he had to do, and the fact that he survived the ordeal. Incredible story and a happy ending.

 

[PinkFloyd]

I always carry a chainsaw, some whisky, loads of bandages, some duck tape, a set of surgeons knifes, a 498 piece tool set, 4 mobile phones, a GSP, sutures, a laptop and a 4 man tent with me everytime I walk my dog........ you can never be "too prepared"

On a serious note the guy must have really had a lot of courage to cut his own arm off...... just imagine being faced with that (

 

[Guardian]

I wonder what it would be like to feel your ability to move your fingers vanish as you cut.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Unholy carp! That's hardcore.

WRT emergency communication equipment -- cell phones don't necessarily "reach" some of those places. Quote:

Originally posted by ServinginEcuador My guess is that he wrapped the tourniquet first, let the feeling and circulation go first, then with a lot less pain cut off what remained of his arm...

Mountaineer: Dam! Wish I'd thought of that...

No, seriously, the guy survived, he wouldn't have otherwise. In hindsight, he's amazing. And the courage!...