Climber falls during Service Day activities

Winch

Winch

Location
Asheville, NC
I was forwarded this email and wondered if anyone knew any more information on this unfortunate event....


Dear Members,

For those of you who had not heard, during our March 7th clean-up day there was a very unfortunate accident. One of our dedicated members and a past head judge, Steve Castrogiovanni fell out of a tree. He sustained severe injuries but miraculously survived his fall. He has been in intensive care since the fall but is slowly recuperating.
A caring bridge web page has been set up with updates on his condition and information on a fund that has been set up to help support Steve and his family.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevecastrogiovanni .

This years Tree Climbing Championship will be in support of Steve. We hope you can join us at Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton Md. Click here for more information and an updated flyer about the event.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers,

Bonnie Deahl,
MAC-ISA President


....end of copied email...


I believe it was in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter, so looking at you all to help us understand what happened.

Thanks - be careful out there - it only takes one false move to end your career!
 
I have friends who were there when it happend. Steve fell from about 65'. He was using a SRT system. I have not heard any specific details yet on why he fell. As far as I know they have not come to any conclusions. It looks like Steve is going to be ok, though its going to take some time to heal. Keep him in your prayers, he is a good man with wife and children.
 
Thanks - ascenders and SRT? Wrench? Any more details would be appreciated.

It's always shocking when the most experienced have an accident. He sounds like he was pretty experienced.

It can happen to anybody. I know I've had my share of near misses.

This past weekend I had a slip-up in the tree (a slick-barked beech tree) and fell about two feet. My instinct was to bear hug the trunk. Not sure that was the best instinct, but it did stop me from landing on my steel-core lanyard, which would have been a jolt I don't want to experience.

Long story short, I have two humongous brushburns on my left bicep and forearm that burned worse than any pain I can ever recall. I can only wonder what an oak would have done brush-burn-wise.
 
Prayers to Steve and family for quick, complete recovery. Most likely because he was a part of an ISA project, he had the best, most qualified people to handle the situation.

Winch, I did the same thing a week ago on a Water Oak. Have a nice deep tissue bruise on my right knee and scuffed up shins. Not fun! Climb safe!!!
 
Really sad news indeed.

I don't personally know him, But he is the President of the Maryland Arborist Association and a well respected Master Arborist.
I heard of the incident through word of mouth and also saw the E-mail.
Prayers all around for his family and friends
 
Quote from:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevecastrogiovanni

[ QUOTE ]
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 9:42 AM, EDT

Steve went in for a 12 hour surgery at 8AM this morning. They will be repairing his ribs and removing some bone remants from his back. The doctors feel this will allow his ribs to heal faster and with less pain. Otherwise he is doing fine, is aware of what is happening, and hopes the surgery speeds his recovery

[/ QUOTE ]

Prayers for Steve & family & doctors & nurses
 
sad news, hope his recovery is swift.

Does anyone know exactly how this accident happened?
 
heal fast......you are one of the few to survive a fall from that height...

a merit badge that no one wishes to earn

when the time is right please share details bout what went down....

until then...remember things will get better
 
Very sad event, a fall from that height has to be insane and to survive is truly a miracle. Prayers and best wishes to his wife and children whom I am sure must be hurting just as bad. Pray for a speedy recovery with lots of support.
 
I hope he is doing well and has a fast recovery!

I took a fall from around 40 ft and landed on a pile of brush..completely my fault.. I couldnt imagine from 20 more feet. I believe the brush saved me. Not trying to take away from this thread. Will post the details in a new one.
 
I spoke to someone who was there for the fall. They were working on trees getting ready for the MAC-ISA TCC. He hasn't started talking much yet and at this point nobody has any idea what happened. Apparently he fell on his back and they say his helmet and the soft ground saved his life. Helmet worked as it should and broke at the suspension preventing a broken neck. A good example of why we should always wear a hardhat.
 
In the bad old days I used to climb big trees with nothing more than a stupid haircut between my head and the ground. Now I have six high-end climbing helmets and still want more; I like them the way Imelda Marcos likes shoes. Collect many, wear several a day, change them when you change your gloves; I have them with tinted, clear, and mesh face screens . . . with and without ear protection . . . in different colors and some with stickers and some with camera mounts.

I hope Steve has a good recovery. Count me in for a contribution when he needs to get his helmet replaced.
 
Its something like 85% of falls from 40' are fatalities.. He had to be in good physical shape to survive that fall.. Landing on his back may have actually saved his life... Hopefully he walks and talks again as good as ever.. Prayers! And be careful all the time!
 
This is the latest post on the carebridge sight. amazing recovery.

Sunday, April 1, 2012 1:36 PM, EDT

Great news today! After 26 days on his back, Steve sat up in bed, put on a back brace, stood up, and walked 5 steps before having to sit down to rest! He called to tell us about it, and said it was completely exhausting but he was really excited to be on his feet. His left leg is definitely weak due to the knee injury (torn ligaments) but these are the first steps toward becoming mobile. This week he will be focusing on being able to walk well enough to leave the hospital for a rehab center. He will need to wear a back brace until the repairs to his T8-9 vertebrae begin to heal. He is still in some pain but it is managed and tolerable. Steve is eating well, and welcomes visitors and phone calls to help pass the long days. We all know how much he likes to be busy and he has been calling Bob to discuss business over the phone. He is definitely anxious to get back home to his family and back to work.

To make a donation to the Castrogiovanni Family Fund, see below.This money goes directly to the family. Checks may be sent to:Joanne Mead, PO Box 249, Lisbon, MD 21765 Check Payable to Joanne Mead Memo:Castrogiovanni Family Fund or CLICK HERE to make a donation using a credit card
 
That's great to hear that he is doing so well considering his fall...so lucky to be alive.

Any more details on what type of SRT system he was using and how he fell out of the tree? Even if he isn't talking yet, I'm sure that there are others who have investigated his fall.
 
from CaringBridge.org - Steve Castrogiovanni -- TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012 12:13 PM, EDT:

[ QUOTE ]
Steve is leaving the hospital this afternoon for rehab at Adventist Rehab on the campus of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. He has been able to get up, walk, and sit in a chair for the last 2 days, but finds it exhausting and is still adjusting to a reduction in pain medication. Visitors are welcome. Check here for hours and directions: http://www.adventistrehab.com/ARHM/facilities/rockville/
 
I was there on the day he fell. I arrived minutes after the ambulance had carted him off to the hospital.So I did not see him fall.However I did get a chance to look at his gear, the accident site,the tree and do a bit of investigation in to how it happened.

Steve was using a Frog SRT system to ascend. He was climbing on 10mm sterling snake bite rope(green in color) tied off at the base of the tree using a carabiner clipped through the factory spliced end of the rope. It had two or three wraps around the trunk.

The tree was a ~100ft. tall tulip poplar in good health (just in need of some minor deadwooding).His TIP was over a good size branch at about 75ft. He was using a petzel saddle I believe. The frog was set up with a CMI dual handle ascender with foot loop and tether, a petzel croll chest ascender with shoulder strap and petzel pantin right foot ascender. All of the gear was brand new as well as the rope looked like it had never been climbed on at all.

There was debate over how high he was in the tree when he fell, but I know one thing for sure that he was at least 40ft up. I know this because he broke off a good sized branch while he was falling at 40ft up.My guess based upon the eye witness estimates it was all of 60+ ft up.
He had not even so much as made a cut before he was on the ground.I think he was getting ready to tie in to another rope to work the tree in Dbrt when he fell.

He went down head first landing on head, shoulder,and back I believe. There were two large divits in ground that looked like they would fit a head and shoulder impact.luckly the ground was soft that day. He was wearing a Kask Climbing helmet that did its job well!

When he hit the ground all of his gear and ascent system came down with him unattached to the rope.Rope remainded in place. Some folks said all of the cams were completely open on his ascenders.Yet I can't say for sure(though that would make scence as to why they cam down with him).
The rope was untouched with out a knick, cut or defect of any kind. I made the mistake of not looking to see whether or not his lanyard was clipped to one side or clipped across him on his harness.So I dont know whether or not he was safely tied in with the lanyard and the branch broke or what.

So we will not know what exactly happend until he recalls the event when he is well enough to and willing to. Steve had a great reputation as a safety trainer and skilled arborist. So this one has every body scratching their heads over it. It is so hard to believe that he even survived the fall much less not ending up completely paralyzed or a veggie for life.
Truly an amazing story and I wish him a speedy recovery. Also I know he and his family appreciates the support and prayers you guys have been sending. Keep it up it is working!!
Thanks,
Patrick
 
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