FALL ON ICE, UNROPED, ICE COLLAPSE, WARM WEATHER Quebec, Montreal, Mont Royal

On January 6, 1993, M.D. (29), an experienced ice climber and a member of the FQM, went out with a friend to practice climbing on an ice flow at Mont Royal. About 1405, while he was climbing unroped, the ice broke away under his crampons and he fell some 20 meters, sustaining a pelvis fracture and a dislocated hip. His friend went for help, and M.D. was taken, in shock and semi-conscious, to Montreal General Hospital. He remained there one month for treatment.

Analysis

High temperatures in the days before this mishap had caused the ice to deteriorate, and so it was not reliable. (Source: Quebec Mountain Federation)