The Ultimate Survivor

An adventurous soul, Aron Ralston went to Blue John Canyon in Utah to hike in 2003. He went hiking alone and he wasn’t worried about it, knowing that he was an experienced climber. But he made two big mistakes; he didn’t tell anyone where he was and he didn’t take his mobile phone with him.

He climbed down a narrow gap between the walls of the canyon. Suddenly a large rock fell on his right arm. It trapped his arm against the canyon wall. He tried to pull his arm out, but the rock was too heavy 360 kilograms. Aron realised that he was in trouble. He was not able to call his friends or family, and nobody knew where he was. Moreover, he was about to run out of food and water.

First of all, he tried to move the rock. Then he tried to break the rock using his knife. He tried to pull the rock with the rope he had. No success. Meanwhile, he recorded himself in his video camera every day.

After five days, Aron didn’t have any water left, and he felt weak and sick. He couldn’t feel his hand. He had to make a decision. He could die, or he could cut his arm off. He chose the latter. He broke the bone in his arm. Then he tied a cloth around his arm and started cutting his arm. It took him an hour. He said later, ‘It was one hundred times worse than any pain I’ve felt before.’

Finally, he was able to walk, but he was still 12 kilometres away from his car. He had to go down the canyon wall on a rope with just one arm. Then he had to walk through the canyon in the dazzling sun. Eventually, he met some other hikers, and a helicopter came to rescue him.

These days, Aron gives speeches about his experience and recently he has written a book about it. The book was made into a film, 127 Hours. He has an artificial arm but he has never given up climbing. He’s thankful to be alive.