Hiker Rescued From NH Mountain After Accidentally Stabbing Himself
FRANCONIA, N.H. (CBS/AP) - A Massachusetts hiker has been rescued from the White Mountains in New Hampshire after suffering an accidental, self-inflicted knife wound.
The Fish and Game Department says 22-year-old Benoit Armangau, of Acton, was camping with a friend when he accidentally stabbed himself while cutting evergreen boughs for bedding and insulation using a 5-inch knife.
"The buck knife went right through the branch and came downwards and into my leg," Armangau explained.
He and his friend, 22-year-old Justin Odryna, also of Acton, are experienced hikers. Both are trained in emergency medicine and they'd packed enough food, clothes, and emergency supplies for a four-day trip.
"We knew exactly what we needed to do," Odryna said. "We were well-prepared."
The hikers stayed calm and were able to get Armangau's massive bleeding under control and bandaged. Despite weak cell signals on Mt. Flume, in Franconia Ridge, they managed to call and text for help.
In the meantime, the hikers did their best to hunker down. "We got [Ben} bandaged [and] got pressure on the wound with an ace bandage," Odryna explained.
Searchers, who encountered up to two feet of snow and rain, reached the hikers at 1:45 Thursday morning. They stabilized the injury and stayed with the young men, who had sleeping bags and tents.
"The Fish and Game and the volunteers that came, they were amazing," Armangau said. "They were great guys, always upbeat, always cracking jokes to keep us going."
Armangau was able to hobble down the mountain on Thursday with assistance from the rescue team. He was treated and released from a nearby hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong contributed to this report.
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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