Incidents:Slip and fracture in Kanangra Main

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Slip and fracture in Kanangra Main
Date 2009/10/18
Location Kanangra Main
Severity Injury
Canyoneering-related
Yes
SAR involvement
No
Navigation problem
No
Swift water problem
Environmental problem
No
Communication problem
No
Planning problem
No
Skills problem
No
Body movement problem
Yes
Rigging problem
No
Rappel problem
No
Insufficient gear
No
Gear failure
No

Summary[edit]

Reproduced from https://canyonaccident.org/kanangra-main-canyon-2009-10-18/ (Myles David)

Accounts[edit]

  • Date of Event: 10/18/2009
  • Canyon involved: Kanangra Main Canyon
  • Region: Blue Mountains, New South Wales
  • Country: Australia
  • Submitted by: Myles David
  • Source: Self-report
  • Injury: Fracture
  • Cause: Fall, Inadequate equipment, Overconfidence

Description of Event: Early in my canyoning days. We were a group of 3 descending Kanangra Main Canyon. After descending the 9th abseil (approximately 10 meters) I decided to climb back up a slippery rock slope to the anchor (seemed like a good idea at the time). I only made it halfway. As I was descending the slippery rock face I slipped. I slid for 2 meters then fell another 3 meters resulting in fractured tibia and large cut to leg. We only had small skinny bandages in our first aid kit and used these to try and support the ankle and cover the cut. We considered calling for help but we could not get reception to put a phone call out (using 112 for emergency). We did not carry a PLB on that trip. We shifted all the gear in my pack to other two packs. With assistance from the others I made my way slowly down the last few abseils and up the steep climb out. We made it to the cars sometime towards midnight then drove to hospital. Hospital staff advised that the inadequate bandages used had contributed to severity of injury and advised on adding several large compression bandages to our kit.

Analysis:

  • Good judgement must be used when deciding to climb rock without belay. The penalty for a slip must be weighed against the benefit of reaching the top.
  • Each team should carry a first aid kit. They vary greatly in contents. The ability to improvise when there is a lack of first aid material is important.
  • Groups exploring remote canyons might consider some type of communication device such as SPOT or a personal locator beacon.
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