A seriously injured British climber crawled for four days in
sub-zero temperatures after being swept from a rock by an avalanche
in Rumania's Fagaras Mountains last week.
Kenneth Jones, 27 from Manchester, fractured his skull in the
75-foot fall as well as breaking his leg and pelvis and sustaining
other injuries. Unable to walk, he dragged himself several kilometres
'Touching the Void'-style until he reached a village.
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The Fagaras Mountains, aka the
Transylvanian Alps
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Frostbitten after temperatures fell as low as minus 17 C, he was
discovered by a local 17-year-old who called an ambulance and stayed
with Mr Jones to translate for doctors. Although he was admitted to
hospital in a coma, doctors reportedly say that while he has suffered
multiple injuries, his life is no longer in danger.
As well as being extraordinarily resilient, Jones was also very
fortunate. The village he reached is not normally inhabited in winter
and it was only by chance that the family who found him were there
undertaking some repairs to their house. He was also refused entry to
two hospitals who said his condition was too serious for them to
treat.
Apparently Jones had won a climbing holiday in Rumania in a
competition, but reports say that he had 'none of the proper
equipment' when he set off from Brasov
- best known as the home of Dracula's castle - to climb the 7,000ft
Mount Transfagarasan.
Incredible story. For full details see the Daily
Telegraph web site.
• Official
Rumanian tourism site
• Rumanian
Mountain Guide site
Adam Youd
