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climber New Zealand Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 16, 2007 - 12:42am PT Don't grab the 'draw - a cautionary tale



Pumped out of his mind and with the prospect of falling off at Britten Crag (Christchurch, New Zealand) recently, James McLafferty erroneously lunged for a quickdraw. Unfortunately his hand slid down the draw,inadvertently opening the gate and allowing the hooked end of the carabiner to penetrate between his index and middle finger.



As he fell past the draw the carabiner slid deeper into his hand and underneath the extensor tendon of his first finger. You can imagine his horror as he jerked himself to a halt before watching the carabiner exit his hand - tearing something white along with it, only to fall further onto the next bolt down.



Once lowered to the ground a quick stocktake revealed no broken bones, but two partially de-gloved fingers, a hand ripped open and an extensor tendon torn completely off the bone.



James would like other climbers to be aware that the practice of grabbing draws is potentially dangerous! Perhaps this photo will help you resist that draw-grabbing urge and take the plunge instead.



Following reconstructive surgery it appears James' tendon has been sucessfully reattached and he is hopeful a rehabilitation programme with the hand therapy department at Christchurch hospital will get him back on the rock next summer.



Report : Greg Jack

Photo : James McLafferty



This was first published in The Climber (NZAC), Issue 59 Autumn 2007



These could be deemed graphic images.....





slayton



Trad climber Morongo Valley, Ca Apr 16, 2007 - 12:56am PT Bummer. Hope he heals well and fast.



Morbid curiosity but. ... .. how did he get his sandals back on and is he flipping us the bird?

cragrat



climber New Zealand Topic Author's Reply - Apr 16, 2007 - 01:01am PT I wasn't there... this i my "helping to spread the word" but I guess his belayer might have put them on for him. cragrat



climber New Zealand Topic Author's Reply - Apr 16, 2007 - 01:04am PT Gotta think global....



UKC, Rockclimbing.com, Chockstone, Mojozone, Supertopo turd



climber Apr 16, 2007 - 01:11am PT Somewhere I have (used to have) a picture from a naval safety magazine that would make that seem pretty tame.



Looked like a special effect. Moral: Don't wear a ring if there is a chance of getting it hung up on anything.



Picture a wire stripper on your finger. 3 fingers, a thumb, and a skeleton finger.



Never knew what "degloved" meant before I saw that.





cragrat



climber New Zealand Topic Author's Reply - Apr 16, 2007 - 01:51am PT Umm they were there but I decided it was better to go for the shock treatment - actually I wasn't sure if I could put pics up ... cintune



climber Penn's Woods Apr 16, 2007 - 07:31am PT I hope you posted this to a French forum as well. 426



Sport climber Buzzard Point, TN Apr 16, 2007 - 09:25am PT More like, if yer gonna grab it, you'd better "stick it"...





Indianclimber



climber Las Vegas Apr 16, 2007 - 09:36am PT Hey Cragrat do you know Buzz? Did some climbing with him when he was in Vegas Gary



climber Desolation Basin, Calif. Apr 16, 2007 - 10:14am PT Bah. That's nothing, seen lots worse in bakeries. Once a guy slammed a door on a proof box and ripped the tendon out of his arm. He's now known as "Three Finger" Lutz.



Once picked up a piece of dough on a conveyor belt. Was about to toss it back in the mixer, when I noticed there was a finger inside.



Now Werner will have some real stories for us. Messages 1 - 10 of total 10 in this topic Return to Forum List