Incident:Crushed finger in Monkeyface Creek 2024/05/03
From ropewiki.com
| Incident:Crushed finger in Monkeyface Creek 2024/05/03 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2024/05/03 |
| Location | Monkeyface Creek |
| Severity | Injury |
| Canyoneering-related | Yes |
| SAR involvement | No |
| Navigation problem | No |
| Environmental problem | Yes |
| Communication problem | No |
| Planning problem | No |
| Skills problem | No |
| Body movement problem | No |
| Rigging problem | No |
| Rappel problem | No |
| Insufficient gear | No |
| Gear failure | No |
Summary
A canyoneer was hit by an unprovoked sky-rock from upslope on the approach up the gully.
Accounts
The rock was traveling at speed down the gully. The canyoneer had their hand on a rock when they were hit and this turned their finger into a 50mph rock sandwich. The canyoneers rappelled down the approach and obtained medical attention.
The finger broke at the distal phalanx and split open requiring sutures.
It’s the authors opinion that this was completely bad luck and had nothing to do with skills or body movement.
Wear your helmet, and copious PPE on ascent and consider taking a safer approach.
