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Stuck in a Jam

An Australian rock climber spent the night trapped in the boulder problem known as Squeeze Rock at Mount Arapiles. If you don’t like tight squeezes, this problem is not for you.

The 24-year-old was forced to spend the night in “very cold” conditions as rescuers worked to free him. 

Luckily for the 24-year-old, and unlike Ralston who had to amputate his own arm, his girlfriend was on hand to call authorities and he survived the 10 hours ‘wedged’ inside the rock with his limbs intact. Ambulance Victoria officers said the man was “extremely hypothermic” and said shampoo, olive oil and other slippery liquids were used to rescue him.

The man’s hips got stuck around 10 p.m. on Monday night and was freed around 8 a.m. the next morning. State Emergency Services volunteers, Victorian police, the Country Fire Authority and local rescue specialists were on hand to help paramedics with the rescue. It was worried the climber would fall victim to crush syndrome, a dangerous illness caused when dead blood reenters the blood stream after a weight is removed. The climber is in stable condition in a hospital.

In 2011 a 15-year-old boy had to be rescued after getting stuck in Squeeze Rock.

Rescue operation, Photo Victoria Police
Rescue operation, Photo Victoria Police

Video of Squeeze Rock

Another famous “stuck” scenario was when Jason Kruk got his leg “locked” into a crack in Squamish, video here:

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