32岁的蒙大拿州护士David Cifaldi在攀登该州最高峰花岗岩峰时遭遇意外，被44英寸长的登山杖刺穿左臂下方的肌肉[1]。事件发生于2024年7月20日上午9:44[1]。经过自我评估，Cifaldi判断伤口未伤及关键器官，决定自行下山[1]。他表示："我相信这是在胸壁外。不过是皮肉之伤。"[1]
Cifaldi与两位登山同伴使用卫星通讯设备通知了当地救援队，随后用超过6小时的时间独立完成下山[1]。他共下降了约10英里距离和5000英尺高度，最终在下午约3:30抵达停车处[1]。搜救队指挥官Ty Williams表示："没有危险威胁他人。他不想要我们的帮助，所以我们不会违反他的权利或意愿强行提供帮助。"[1]
Cifaldi随后自行驾车前往医院，医生取出登山杖为其包扎伤口[1]。他最终返回工作岗位[1]。
A 32-year-old nurse from Montana was struck by a trekking pole while climbing Granite Peak, the state's highest mountain at 12,800 feet, on July 20, 2024 [1]. David Cifaldi fell during the ascent and was impaled in the muscle below his left arm by the 44-inch pole [1]. After assessing his injury, Cifaldi determined that no vital organs had been damaged and decided to descend the mountain on his own rather than request rescue assistance [1].
Cifaldi and two climbing companions used satellite communication equipment to notify local rescue personnel of the incident [1]. He then spent more than six hours hiking down approximately 10 miles and 5,000 feet in elevation to reach the parking area, arriving around 3:30 p.m. [1]. "I believe this is outside the chest wall. It's just a flesh wound," Cifaldi stated regarding his injury [1]. Upon reaching his vehicle, he drove himself to the hospital, where doctors removed the trekking pole and treated the wound [1]. He subsequently returned to work [1]. Rescue Commander Ty Williams noted that because Cifaldi posed no danger to others and declined assistance, authorities respected his decision not to intervene [1].