Emergency room nurse David Cifaldi survived a terrifying ordeal on Montana’s Granite Peak after a loose rock caused him to slip and drive a trekking pole directly through his torso. With approximately eight inches of the pole protruding from his back, Cifaldi used his medical training to stay calm and confirm that no vital organs had been struck.

Choosing not to wait for a mountain rescue, Cifaldi decided to self-evacuate and walk back to safety with the pole still lodged inside his body. He stabilized the embedded object using a strap from his running vest while his friends monitored his condition and kept his spirits up with lighthearted humor during the trek.

After a grueling 6.5-hour journey through snowfields and steep boulder fields, Cifaldi successfully reached the trailhead under his own power. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors safely removed the trekking pole, leaving him with a long recovery process that may still require additional surgery.

Reflecting on the freak accident, Cifaldi acknowledged that he was extremely lucky, as a slight shift in the pole’s path could have been fatal. Despite the painful experience and the long recovery ahead, he remains determined and plans to return to Granite Peak next year to finally reach the summit.