Unprepared British Hiker Falls While Hiking in the Alps
A British hiker learned the hard way that it is so important to be prepared when exploring the wilderness, even short nature hikes.
John Pole survived three nights in the freezing Swiss mountains after falling almost 70 feet down a steep slope near Realp in the Swiss Alps. The 40-year-old was camping in a field in the mountains when he decided to take a walk along a flower-lined footpath that lead to the nearby town of Andermatt. Wearing only a shirt, jeans and a jumper, Pole walked along until fog descended on the area and he lost his course. He fell and fractured his legs and several ribs.
Pole did not have a cell phone, flashlight, food or water with him when he started his hike. He was found by a group of hikers and was taken by helicopter off the mountain. He had hypothermia and had not eaten or drunk anything since the accident.
“I really thought I was going to die up there,” said Pole, now recuperating at the Canton hospital in Altdorf.
