Interesting survival story....

Canadian Press
January 21, 2008 at 9:00 PM EST
CROWSNEST PASS, Alta. — A paramedic used to saving the lives of others found himself having to eat rotten meat and fend off snarling animals to ensure his own survival in rough Alberta bush country.

Ken Hildebrand of Fort McMurray was riding his all-terrain vehicle as he collected animal traps north of the Livingstone Gap, about 130 kilometres southwest of Calgary, on Jan. 8 when the quad rolled after hitting a rock and trapped him underneath.

Full news story here.

That's pretty interesting. A shame about his foot; I wonder how cold it was then?

Well, that's quite the story. Sounds like he's a tough one to kill and had great desire to keep himself alive. At least he didn't have to resort to cutting off a limb like Ralstad, although he could have. Keeping coyotes warded off must have been a chore in itself!

According to Environment Canada the coldest temps in this approximate area was about -10 C (14F) and the warmest temps was + 5 C (41F). The man was lucky that he did not die of hypothermia.

Another case of just plain dumb luck.

I wonder how fast he was going when he hit that rock?

Hunger does not equal starvation. Can you imagine eating rotten meat, and getting the runs with one leg pinned under your vehicle, face down in the snow?

It seems that he would have been better off tossing the meat to the coyotes. If there really were any coyotes.

No mention of any kind of survival kit or ways to make a fire. No water. No cup. I wonder if he's making plans to go hiking on Mt. Hood soon?

To tell the truth, I don't want an EMT who is that stupid anywhere around me.

Sue