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Real Life "Frozen"

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acc
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 222
http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/18/stranded-snowboarder-burns-cash-to-stay-alive/

How's this for a horror story? A solo German snowboarder was taking a ski lift down a mountain in the Hochzillertal resort area of the Austrian Alps at 4:00 PM when, while he was at 10 meters above the ground, it was shut down for the day.

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/extreme_sports/Stranded_Snowboarder_Burns_Cash_to_Stay_Alive'; Dominik Podolsky, a 22-year-old from Munich, didn't have a mobile phone, no one could hear him yell and he was facing temperatures of 0°F. "I thought about jumping down but then I'd have probably broken both legs and would have frozen to death," the brave young man told reporters.

As the hours dragged on and the temperature continued dropping, Podolsky tried to stave off hypothermia by tensing his muscles and keeping his hands in his armpits, but he couldn't stay warm -- and he kept falling asleep. Finally, he thought to burn the contents of his wallet with his cigarette lighter for just a little extra heat. Once the napkins, bills and business cards were gone, he had no choice but to burn cash.

He burned some 100 euros, and when he was down to his very last 20 euro note, a snowcat driver spotted him at last and sent for help. It was 10:30 PM when Podolsky was rescued and taken to the hospital for immediate hypothermia treatment. Spiegel Online reports, "He said he may sue the lift operator for failing to check the lift after shutting it down. But a spokesman for the company said it wasn't meant for downward trips, and that Podolsky must have ignored warning signs and barriers to get on."
Feb 19 2010 12:53PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,814
Man, that's insane. 30 years ago my parents were stuck on a lift at a hill in the Midwest for a couple hours after the lift closed, and they had thrown all their equipment to the ground and were planning on climbing across the cable to a tower when they were finally spotted by sweep. But somehow I can't imagine that happening in North America anymore these days.

It's also kinda interesting (at least from an American perspective) that he's planning on suing the lift op instead of the mountain itself.
Feb 19 2010 1:05PM
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manuel87
Posts: 675 - Karma: 17
haha ive heard about that in the radio. however, the resorts excuse is outrageous. ive never seen any lift in europe let alone lift instructors who do not allow you to go down especially in the afternoons. they are obliged to do a number of checking laps before shutting down... lame excuse
Feb 19 2010 1:08PM
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RJD2
Posts: 3532 - Karma: 921
Repost from yesterday, but no biggie.
https://newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/522733/

That would suck so bad. And that movie looks terrible.
Feb 19 2010 1:45PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
Yeah, it's not very traditional to even sue for stuff like this, usually you file a police report and they will take it to court for you after the investigation. It's also not very usual to sue a company itself but the person responsible for the damage, like in this case. Of course, if the case is won, the reparations will not be million-class.
Feb 19 2010 2:13PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
he deserved it for being such a fucking idiot.
Feb 19 2010 2:15PM
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