Near Death Experience: Aron Ralston

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Ralston

 

Aron Ralston is a 27-year-old mountaineer from Aspen, Colorado, a state popular for mountain climbing and people from all over the country come there to conquer the ‘fourteeners’, a mountain range which consists of 59 peaks. Before becoming a mountaineer, Aron was a mechanical engineer until he realised that he wanted more than a corporate job and began exploring mountains on solo trips. Things took an unexpected turn when met a near-death when he was hiking through the Blue John Canyon in Colorado in the year 2003.

 

 

Source: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/nov/21/hard-rock-life/

 

 

The incident happened on April 26, 2003, during a solo descent of Bluejohn Canyon in South Eastern Utah. Aron was descending into the canyon when a huge rock above him came toppling down. He fell and his right hand became lodged between the canyon wall and the 363kg (800lb) boulder, leaving him trapped 100 feet below the desert surface and 20 miles from the nearest road. The man was hiking alone and hadn’t informed anyone about his hike and hence, nobody knew where to look for him. It was reported that all he had at that point of time was two burritos, some candy bars and a bottle of water. After five days trapped beneath the massive boulder, Aron came up with a way, the only way, to set himself free, by amputating his own right hand using his only resource, a multitool. It turns out that his method of freeing himself was indeed the only available way at that point of time as it took 13 men, a winch and a hydraulic jack to retrieve his arm. His arm was then cremated and the ashes given back to him.

 

 

Source: https://www.thereelplace.com/news/a-first-look-at-danny-boyles-127-hours/

 

Aron’s experience is an inspiration to many. His willingness and grit to continue living should not be questioned. Evidently, the incident is documented in his autobiography titled “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” and is the subject of the 2010 film “127 Hours” where he is portrayed by James Franco. They even went the extra mile to film at the actual location in Utah where Aron survived. The movie was nominated was nominated for 6 Oscars.

 

 

Source: www.twelfx.com

Humans are assessed on how they respond to the situation when events take an unexpected turn. Aron is a living illustration of a person who is aware of how and what to do in dire circumstances. He could have been remembered as a man who perished in an accident while hiking, but he lived to tell his tale. He made the decision to live, even if it meant giving up his arm. Aron embarked on an excursion that Twelf-X encouraged others to do - a journey that puts you through greater trials than you can fathom. An adventure that shapes your life. This is what Twelf-X is all about.