Brit Survives Rumanian Epic

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.

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