In 2014, a 17-year-old experienced a 12-metre fall while bouldering, leading to a shattered pelvis, a broken left arm, and a broken heel. The incident occurred when the individual hesitated at the edge of a slippery boulder, causing them to plummet downwards.
An emergency medical technician, who was fishing nearby, witnessed the fall and provided immediate assistance, suspecting a broken pelvis and spinal injuries. Paramedics arrived 30 minutes later, and X-rays at the hospital confirmed the pelvis was in pieces, though the spine was intact. Internal bleeding from the shattered pelvic bones was also discovered.
The individual underwent a 13-hour surgery to reconstruct the pelvis with pins and metal plates. This was followed by two weeks in hospital and six months of bed rest at home. After four months, movement began to return as spinal cord swelling reduced. Ten months post-fall, the individual was permitted to put pressure on their feet, and a year later, could walk independently after replacing hospital physical therapy with yoga.
Now 29 and a yoga teacher, the individual has cautiously returned to climbing, stating the accident made them a more safety-conscious climber.