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[ilyash]

any of you read about the article in the times about the guy (Aron) who cut off his own arm to survive? if not check it out:

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (May 2) - A climber who amputated his own arm with a pocketknife to free himself from a narrow, remote canyon in Utah was described as a ''warrior'' with a strong will to survive as he recovered at a hospital.

Aron Ralston, 27, was hospitalized in serious condition Friday after his six-day ordeal in Blue John Canyon near Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah.

The experienced outsdoorsman would have died if he had stayed in the canyon, pinned by an 800- to 1,000-pound boulder that had shifted onto his right arm, said Sheriff's Department Sgt. Mitch Vetere.

''He said that was the only way out,'' said Vetere, who helped rescue Ralston. ''He had a will to live.''

In a statement, Donna Ralston said her son survived because of his strong physical and mental condition.

''He was able to rationally consider alternatives relative to his situation,'' she said. ''His spirits are high and he anxiously looks forward to returning to his love of the outdoors.''

Officials at St. Mary's Hospital said Ralston was expected to recover.

Friends say Ralston's expeditions have been known to inspire awe. He has climbed 49 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks and was preparing for an ascent of Alaska's Mount McKinley.

''To be honest, sometimes we get pretty scared with some of the things he's doing,'' said Brion After, manager of the Ute Mountaineering store in Aspen, where Ralston works.

Ralston began what was to be a day hike April 26. He was canyoneering, where a hiker uses rock-climbing gear to negotiate narrow canyons.

He pushed his arm into a crack in the canyon wall and the boulder shifted, pinning him, said Steve Swanke of Canyonlands National Park. He tried to use his ropes and anchors to free himself, but couldn't.

On Tuesday, Ralston ran out of water. By Thursday, he decided he had no choice but to use his pocketknife to amputate his arm just below the right elbow, officials said.

He applied a tourniquet and administered first aid before rappelling 60 feet to the canyon floor, where he began walking.

He encountered two tourists and was about two miles from his car when a rescue helicopter spotted him, still bleeding, officials said.

Rescuers began searching for Ralston on Tuesday after friends called police when he didn't show up for work.

During the chopper flight to a hospital in nearby Moab, Utah, Ralston was clearly tired but asked only for water, Vetere said. He climbed out of the helicopter and walked to the emergency room, his bandaged arm in a makeshift sling.

Ralston matter-of-factly explained what had happened and that he had lost a lot of blood, Swanke said. He later was transferred to the hospital in Grand Junction.

''Aron Ralston is a warrior,'' Swanke said.


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How many of you would do this?

[Artashes]

I would not go climbing in the first place.

But if seriously, I don't know. I think I don't have the guts to do that. And if you start cutting it and you're physically weak - you just die faster..

[fromage]

I hate seeing blood, let alone my own.

[APEXware]

I don't know if I could sit there slowly sawing through my arm, feeling and listening to the grinding of a pocket knife chipping and grinding through my own bone..Hmm, nope.

[IGobyTerry]

Yeah I don't know. Sawing through my own bone... that's just horrible.

[Shyne]

Wouldn't be smarted to carry a cell phone/satellite phone system? Why cut your own arm off? You'll slowly die from water and that's it. It would be easier to die then cut yoru arm off. No way would I cut my arm off. Death is much easier.

[anon-e-mouse]

Originally posted by Shyne
Wouldn't be smarted to carry a cell phone/satellite phone system?

He may have had it in the hand of the stuck arm

I just hope I never find myself in a situation like that to make a choice

[Manga]

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
He may have had it in the hand of the stuck arm

I just hope I never find myself in a situation like that to make a choice

LOL The majority of WHTers most likely won't.

[The Dude]

I dont think i would go climbing,i hate heights,and im no good at it (Ghet tired out easily)

The Dude

[sasha]

I would chew off the damn thing if I have to.

[shaunewing]

I think this is one of those situations where you wouldn't know unless you were in it.

However.. having said that; I don't think I could sit there and cut off my arm. I'd probably pass out before I got anywhere and end up bleeding to death.

--Shaun