I’m the bloke that fell on Phoenix at Arapiles back on March 11th . Though I don’t remember any of it, I gather I was cruising to the finish of the 1st pitch at about 45m & I was perhaps as much as 5m above my gear. I somehow slipped/fell, hit a ledge about 10m below then rolled off turning upside down.
Obviously i was too run out & I did not pay enough attention & respect to the knowledge that low grade routes often have ledges & projections close below. Fortunately my gear held. Fortunate indeed too that I had an excellent climbing partner/ belayer ( John Sexton) who managed to climb up & bring me down.
The Prince Alfred Hospital Melbourne did a great repair/rebuild job on me as the injuries were quite extensive :- smashed pelvis, internal bleeding, fractured spine, concussion, brain bleed, collapsed lung.
The good news is that I’m alive n well with all my faculties & hope to climb again.
I would like to give my many thanks to all climbers, campers & medico’s that gave assistance that day & to all friends & family that visited me in hospital & at home giving me support during my 5 + month healing, particularly my partner Roza.
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