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Montana man hikes himself to rescue with pole impaled in his side
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- David Cifaldi accidentally impaled himself on a trekking pole while hiking Montana’s Froze-to-Death Plateau near Granite Peak, with the pole piercing beneath his left arm and protruding from his back.
- Despite the injury, Cifaldi, a nurse experienced in wound care, assessed his condition as stable and decided to self-rescue with his two companions rather than call for a costly helicopter evacuation.
- The group carefully navigated a difficult six-hour, 10-mile descent to a trailhead, maintaining communication with local authorities who respected Cifaldi’s decision not to accept external rescue assistance.
- After reaching medical facilities, Cifaldi had the pole safely removed and was treated at the hospital where he works, returning to work shortly thereafter.
- Cifaldi cited confidence in his medical knowledge, the support of experienced friends, and the ability to contact search and rescue if needed as key factors in choosing to self-rescue.
