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Story summary
- Nurse David Cifaldi survived a July 20 accident on Montana’s Granite Peak by hiking 10 miles to safety after his trekking pole pierced his lat.
- He fell after stepping on a loose rock, leaving an 8-inch gap between the pole and his body.
- Cifaldi reported no bleeding, full sensation and no light-headedness, deeming the injury non-life-threatening.
- After two hours of transport, Billings hospital removed the pole, which had remained lodged for 8–9 hours.
