World
Injured hiker walks 16 kilometres down US mountain with impaled pole
An American climber has survived a gruelling 16-kilometre descent of Montana's Granite Peak after being impaled by his own hiking pole.
An American hiker has completed an extraordinary self-rescue after being impaled by a hiking pole on a mountain in the United States. Rather than summoning emergency medical services to the remote location, the injured man walked for hours to reach safety.
David Cifaldi was descending Granite Peak, the highest natural point in the state of Montana, when the accident occurred. According to a wire report, the hiking pole pierced his side during the trek. Despite the severe and painful nature of the injury, Mr Cifaldi opted not to call for a helicopter rescue, which is the standard procedure for serious alpine emergencies in the region.
Instead, he began a gruelling journey down the mountain on foot with the equipment still lodged in his body. He traversed 10 miles, or approximately 16 kilometres, of rugged terrain before reaching assistance.
Details regarding the precise circumstances of the fall, the depth of the penetration, and the specific organs affected have not been fully detailed in initial reports. It is also unclear how long the descent took, though traversing that distance on Granite Peak typically requires several hours under normal conditions.
Granite Peak is renowned among climbers for its technical difficulty and hazardous mountain environment. Rescue operations in the area often involve complex aerial extractions due to the steep, rocky landscape and unpredictable weather patterns, making Mr Cifaldi's decision to walk out on his own highly unusual.
Medical experts generally advise against removing impaled objects outside of a clinical setting, as the object can act as a plug to prevent catastrophic blood loss. However, walking such a distance with an impaled object also carries immense physical risks.
Emergency services and local authorities have not yet released a formal statement detailing his current medical status or the long-term prognosis.
Watch for updates on Mr Cifaldi’s medical recovery and any further statements from Montana wilderness rescue authorities.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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