Nurse David Cifaldi Walks 16 km After Impalement on Granite Peak
David Cifaldi, a 32‑year‑old wound‑care nurse from Montana, slipped near the summit of Granite Peak (3,901 m) in the Beartooth Mountains and impaled his torso with a 112 cm trekking pole. He assessed the injury, noting that the pole had missed his chest cavity and vital organs and that bleeding was minimal. Because helicopter evacuations in the United States can cost from $12,000 to over $80,000, Cifaldi chose to forgo air rescue. With two companions he descended roughly 16 km over six hours, using a satellite device to inform authorities of their self‑rescue plan. The group reached a vehicle, drove to a local clinic and then to St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, where the pole was removed and Cifaldi received treatment. He later said, “The flight isn’t free. That was a factor in me deciding to self‑rescue,” and added that the wound was “just a flesh wound.” He returned to work shortly after.
Entities: Billings · Billings, Montana · David Cifaldi · Granite Peak · Montana · St. Vincent Regional Hospital · US Search and Rescue · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cifaldi was taken to St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, where he works, and doctors removed the pole and treated the wound. (self‑reported)
- [● 3 SOURCES] David Cifaldi, a 32‑year‑old nurse, fell near the summit of Montana’s highest mountain and impaled his left arm with his trekking pole. (self‑reported)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cifaldi declined a helicopter rescue because of the potential cost. (self‑reported)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ground search‑and‑rescue services in the region are free, but helicopter rescues require payment. (self‑reported)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cifaldi reported being conscious, experiencing little pain or bleeding, and believed his vital organs were unharmed. (self‑reported)
- [● 3 SOURCES] He and two companions walked down the mountain for about six hours and roughly 16 km to reach a trailhead. (self‑reported)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cifaldi resumed work at the hospital shortly after the procedure. (self‑reported)