Rescuer: Climber who amputated arm had no choice

USA Today ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP)

[ExpatCanuck]

Using a pocketknife, Ralston cut off his right arm below the elbow and applied a tourniquet and administered first aid. He then rigged anchors, fixed a rope and rappelled 60 feet to the canyon floor.

Good thing he didn't have to cut his balls off, because they're made of steel.

[clamper1797]

Yup ... you gotta hand it to him

[clamper1797]

You might say he has a "disarming" personality

[scott7278]

Yep, the liberals continue to disarm the sportsmen of the world. From my cold, dead hand, I say!

[Squantos]

I saw that while I was fixin a bad paper cut........one tough ole boy clearly with a strong will to live .

Stay Safe !

[shotgun]

I quess you can say this time the climber didn't get his rocks off!!

How many thousands of taxpayers dollars were wasted trying to find this idiot.

They have every right to do this but these thrill seekers should be forced to to post a minimum $100,000 bond for rescue expenses, and then they call off the search when the money is all gone.

Remember this one?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/692109/posts

[shotgun]

I quess your name says it all...just what part of these following passages don't you understand?

"If he wouldn't have gotten himself out of that mess," Vetere said, "they wouldn't have seen him from the air."


"The search had begun in the morning after authorities were notified of his disappearance. "

"The rescurers tried to keep Ralston awake for the 12-minute flight to the hospital in Moab, Utah, by talking to him. He walked into the emergency room on his own. He was flown later to the Grand Junction hospital."

[meadsjn]

The guy had to be hardy to have climbed 49 of Colorado's 14,000-footers. Obviously, he was willing to give up his right arm for a chance to climb the remaining four.

Two good survival lessons here that have been mentioned above:

1. Venturing alone into or through wilderness country is risky; and
2. If you are trapped in the wilderness alone, you might have to make some very difficult decisions in order to survive (such as in this story).

I look forward to seeing a more detailed version of his story.

[shotgun]

Must be a call of the wild thing...

Paying for standard emergency services such as auto accidents is one thing, but elaborate helicopter rescues are bit much.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I am sorry, but I live here. And helicopter rescues/searches are a daily occurence in this state. Part of the price of having mountains that people want to explore. There are avalanches and other winter accidents here all thru the winter that require helicopter search and rescues. Are you going to stop all of these activities?

[LibWhacker]

Oh, you can go out there solo and survive. Done it a hundred times myself, you greenie fag. But for your ultimate safety, take a friend (which I'm sure you don't have).

Hey, I've got an idea . . . Why don't you go climb Everest alone? Call me if you get in trouble.

[shotgun]

My point is that these types of rescues have become common place and EXPECTED by those that enjoy these outdoor activities.

However there should be some type of funding source beside mine and your backpockets when it is needed.

[ican'tbelieveit]

The funding for those helicopters is minimal in the scope of tax funds. This is not one of those things I worry about when it comes to tax fund misuse. Funding removal of tattoos in CA, I have a problem with. Funding of which ketchup flows out of the bottle the fastest, yeap, have a problem. But I never have a problem with rescuing a human life, no matter how stupid that person may be and what they did to cause their predicament.

[shotgun]

You are a Mystery.

Where did I imply that I wanted to end these freedoms?

Try climbing back underneath the rock you just called out from.

[LibWhacker]

DU punk.