David Cifaldi, a nurse from a wound care clinic and a former emergency room nurse, demonstrated incredible perseverance after being involved in a severe hiking incident. While climbing Montana’s Granite Peak on July 20, he suffered a serious injury when a trekking pole impaled him.
Cifaldi was hiking with two friends when the accident occurred. According to a GoFundMe page created to aid him, at around 11,800 feet, he stepped on a loose rock, which caused him to lose his trekking pole and fall. The pole went all the way through his side, with both ends sticking out and eight inches between the entry and exit points.
“No bleeding, full feeling, no lightheadedness, nothing vital hit, and the pole stable in place,” the fund page explained about his condition after the mishap.
Despite the intense situation, Cifaldi assessed his injury calmly and decided not to wait for an emergency rescue. Instead, he opted to walk back ten miles to the trailhead with the pole still lodged in him. His decision displayed his ability to manage stress and rely on his medical training.
During their descent, Cifaldi also instructed one of his friends to go ahead and warn other hikers about his appearance. This would prevent unnecessary alarm, particularly among children.
Once they reached the trailhead, Cifaldi was driven roughly two hours to an emergency room in Billings, the nearest hospital capable of handling such a unique injury. The pole had remained in place for approximately 8–9 hours from the time of the fall until medical removal.
“I think my nurse brain clicked on,” Cifaldi told KTMF, describing the incident as a ‘freak thing.’ He emphasized that after concluding the injury wasn’t life-threatening, he was determined to get off the mountain by himself. “A couple inches the other way, and this would be a different story,” he reflected.
Cifaldi admitted feeling lucky, crediting his instincts and medical background for his actions. He is currently receiving ongoing care, with surgery still a possibility.
Online communities applauded Cifaldi’s strength and determination. In a Reddit forum dedicated to unusual news, users commended his resilience. “Good job, man!” one user wrote, while another added, “Yikes!! Glad they made it to treatment.”