MAN vs.WILD: Shock and agony:airlift rescue for injured explorer Bear Grylls after Antarctic fall

dailymail ^ | 07th December 2008

[JoeProBono]

Daredevil SAS man-turned-explorer Bear Grylls was being airlifted to South Africa last night after being badly injured filming a TV documentary in Antarctica. The 34-year-old adventurer broke his shoulder in a life-threatening fall and was said to be in ‘shock and agony’ from a serious fracture which left the bone protruding from his body. The accident happened at 11pm British time on Friday, and Bear’s insurance company arranged for his evacuation

[JoeProBono]

Bear was injured during the making of his latest daredevil documentary, a bid to scale an unnamed mountain after travelling across the Antarctic on jet-skis, a wind-powered kite-ski and an electric-powered para-glider. The aim of the expedition was to promote alternative energy and bioethanol as a source of power, as well as raising funds for the children’s charity Global Angels. If successful, Bear and his team of four had planned to name the 9,000ft peak. But it is uncertain if the bid will now be possible, though Bear is reportedly determined to return to Antarctica.

The airlift operation itself was fraught with danger as it meant flying into hostile conditions with temperatures plummeting to -35C and a landscape of 1,000ft ice cliffs with 700 miles of high altitude plateau.

The Discovery Channel crew filming Bear’s expedition as part of its Man v Wild series – much of which is re-edited and shown on Channel 4’s Born Survivor show – travelled with him to South Africa and will now film his recovery.

Daredevil: Bear Grylls broke his shoulder

[JoeProBono]

[SeafoodGumbo]

I remember one show where he was parched in an African desert and squeezed a big 'ol pile of elephant dung to extract some water.

That almost sounds pleasant compared to having a broken bone protruding through your skin while on a mountain in Antarctica.

[Squantos]

Ouch !

[JoeProBono]

Tastes like chicken and better than dung

[JoeProBono]

[driftdiver]

Read a comparison between him and Les Stroud of SurviorMan.

If you were lost in the wild who would you rather be with? Bear or Les.

Consensus was that being lost with Bear would be more fun but you’d probably end up dead.

That and Bear takes nights in hotels on occassion.

[remaxagnt]

love this guy. ive never missed one of his episodes he was bad mofo.

[driftdiver]

And why didn’t he use the knife he has in the other hand instead of taking a bite? Because he’s an idiot trying to get ratings.

[Soliton]

His name is Ed and he is no Les Stroud (Survivorman). Les goes into the wild alone for seven days, Mike takes a camera crew and has people plant food for him and is protected by British union rules. Mike (Bear) Grylls is show, Les Stroud is dough.

[Farmer Dean]

Plus the guy’s an idiot to eat uncooked wild meat that way.Any guesses on how many potential parasite infections he’s exposing himself to by doing that.

[paul544]

Same reason he'll take a bite out of a living fish. To prove what a real man he is.

Guy's an idiot!!

[JoeProBono]

There have been some (amaturish) attempts to place Bear in a hotel:-}

[cripplecreek]

His show should be called “Watch me unnecessarily risk my life” or “Man Vs common sense”. Les Stroud has a better show and doesn’t take stupid risks.

[JoeProBono]

Les Stroud (Survivorman)

[FreeRadical]

His show should be called “Watch me unnecessarily risk my life”

One of my faves was when he was in the Chugach here in Alaska and came upon a waterfall and decided to climb down it. Crazy freak made is way down slippery rock with icy water in his face. Impressive. As in, impressively freaking nutso.

Now, in fairness, one I gotta be honest and say I'm certainly a bit jealous of the man's mad skills and two, I am sorry to hear he's hurt. Would not wish that on anyone.

[JoeProBono]

“Watch me unnecessarily risk my life”

[cripplecreek]

I would love to be able to go out on one of the survival stints with Stroud (Have multitool will travel) but Grylls scares the hell out of me.

[JoeProBono]

"the guy’s an idiot to eat uncooked wild meat"

Sometime he cooks it. Improves the flavor

[JoeProBono]

Bare Grylls The Consumate Showman