Climber Wedged Between Bolders

[Overlandman]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-22/c ... ection=vic

A climber wedged between two large boulders at Mount Arapiles, in western Victoria for more than 10 hours has been freed by emergency services.
The 24-year-old man was trying to negotiate his way through a "squeeze test" in a narrow crevice when he fell last night about 10:00pm (AEST).
He managed to ring friends, who contacted the emergency services.
The man was freed about 8:10am with the help of olive oil and a pulley system.
He is in a stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Nick Thresher from Ambulance Victoria says emergency crews needed to slip the man out of the crevice.
"I believe some of his friends actually went around the campsite at Mt Arapiles waking up a few people just asking for some shampoo or any other lubricants they can find," he said.
"Funnily enough someone did bring up some motor oil but we declined the use of that one."
Mr Thresher says under the circumstances the climber is doing remarkably well.
"He's extremely hypothermic. He's been between two very cold rocks for many, many hours. His blood pressure is improving," he told Fairfax radio.
"There doesn't appear to be any significant musculoskeletal injuries but we're very concerned with the amount of time he's actually been trapped in this crevice."
What is crush syndrome?
A medical condition characterised by major shock and renal failure following prolonged continuous pressure on skeletal muscle tissue.Typically occurs after the release of crushing pressure when by-products of the damaged muscle tissue are released into the bloodstream.
Can cause local tissue injury, organ dysfunction, metabolic abnormalities and irregular heartbeat.
Paramedics were concerned about crush syndrome.
"The concerns are that when that heavy weight is actually released the various toxins that can be really very harmful to the body can be released into the bloodstream," Mr Thresher said.
"[But] he was not actually trapped by any boulders. It was a more mechanical entrapment between the rock crevice."
Victoria Police Sergeant Jason Burgen said the man managed to get through the rocks on a first attempt yesterday but became wedged by the hips when he tried to go through again last night.
"It's two boulders and they're, at points, up to four or five inches apart, and the idea is to try and climb through this narrow gap," he said.
"He's gotten so far and his hips [were] wedged in the rocks."
It is not the first time there has been an incident at this spot.
"I do believe there may have been some incidents in years gone by," Mr Thresher said.
"It's a common rock that people use in the rock-climbing fraternity for various activities.
"I think they should take up something less hazardous."
Paramedics, the State Emergency Service, police and the CFA high angle rescue squad worked to free him.

[Empty]

He is 24, has a girlfriend and is in the prime of his life which means there is a real risk he will pass his genes on to a new generation.

Hmm, what would Darwin say?

[north-north-west]

It's not hard to do and at least he did manage to get help. At that age you're entitled to at least one embarrassing stuff-up before being written off as an undermensch.

[MickyB]

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[icefest]

Was he sober? Climbing solo at night seems a bit strange. :/

[skog]

I wondered the same thing icefest, As trying to do it at 10pm was an odd time to climbing?

[GPSGuided]

Why was he doing the hip squeeze with a rock at 10pm in the night? What was he thinking?

[Empty]

GPS, Judging by the photo of him with his bare feet sticking out of the crevice I would say he was looking for his shoes.

[Travis22]

It's a bouldering rock near the car park / camp etc... Very popular challenge undertaken by many people. News reports I'd seen said his group had been doing it earlier and they/ he's decided to do it again, one of his friends said he's simply very skinny thus he managed to wind up stuck in a position most people normally doing it cannot get into.

Travis.

[Empty]

Actually they have just released his name. You'll never guess who it was - Gordon Gecko

[gbedford]

Spot on North-north-west.
I have managed that problem when I was younger. It is as good a challenge as anything if you are the right build.
Nothing wrong with doing it at night. Its called adventure. I have climbed many boulders, some rock climbs mountains, bushwalked and skied at night.
So he made a mistake. I hope he keeps trying.

[walkerchris77]

Bit foolish really. Waste of emergency personal. Hope he had to pay some sought of payment for his rescue.
[minor moderation edit]

[icefest]

Bit foolish really. Waste of emergency personal. Hope he had to pay some sought of payment for his rescue.

[Minor moderation edit]
Please tell me you've read the rules...

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[Hallu]

Seriously the hate messages are uncalled for... He didn't swim drunk in a river infested with crocodiles, he simply slipped and fell for *&%$#! sake...

[redbruce]

The ability to consciously undertake challenging activities for the fun of it is one of the pleasures of being of the human species.

He made an error in either risk assessment and/or management.

Its great we have someone to assist/rescue when despite appropriate planning and management we find ourselves in a hazardous situation. However that's a lot of expensive community resources tied up (and potentially put at risk themselves) for just one individuals fun and adventure.

Should a line be drawn between stupidity (eg gross negligence or insufficient risk management for the activity) and misadventure (planned and managed to the standard appropriate for the activity overall but that a small error or unforseen action occurs), and who and how should be held accountable in these situations (such activity with additional risk factor of night).

Where do we draw the line between the community and the individual shouldering the financial risk associated with such activity?

Icefest- bit trigger happy on the rules aren't we?

[gbedford]

I really agree with your first comments redbruce but I think we have to be very careful with the "held accountable and distinguishing between gross negligence and misadventure" ideas. That leads into a legal minefield and people trying to legislate to manage human behaviour. Our society is full of that and human freedoms are slowly being eroded. Sure freedom means risks are involved but I think what is gained outweighs the loss. If we also just reduce everything to financial cost/benefit analysis then that has serious repercussions.

There is ambulance insurance. That covers a lot of costs. Look at the Victorian TAC insurance. That is a no fault safety which the whole community shoulders to protect those who have suffered injury. When you think of the comparative few people who need help for accidents in the outdoors I think the community needs to be willing to shoulder the financial burden for the non financial benefit society gains.

I hope that sounds reasonable because I am fearful of us losing what you said about the pleasures of being human.

All the best,
Gordon

[walkerchris77]

Totally agree. Lol.