How Did a Man Survive a 47-Story Fall?

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SUMMARY

Alcides Moreno, a 37-year-old window washer, survived a 47-story fall from a Manhattan skyscraper due to a combination of factors including landing feet first and possibly holding onto the scaffolding during his descent. Despite suffering multiple fractures and internal injuries, he has shown remarkable recovery, regaining movement in all limbs and the ability to speak. His case highlights that survival from such heights, while rare, is not unprecedented, and factors such as landing technique and immediate medical intervention play crucial roles in outcomes.

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  • Knowledge of physics related to free fall and impact forces
  • Familiarity with window washing safety protocols and training
  • Awareness of human anatomy and injury mechanisms
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Medical professionals, trauma surgeons, emergency responders, and safety trainers in high-risk occupations will benefit from this discussion, as it provides insights into survival factors and medical interventions following severe falls.

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NEW YORK - Doctors say they have never seen anything like it: A window washer who fell 47 stories from the roof of a Manhattan skyscraper is now awake, talking to his family and expected to walk again. Alcides Moreno, 37, plummeted almost 500 feet in a Dec. 7 scaffolding collapse that killed his brother.

Somehow, Moreno lived, and doctors at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center announced Thursday that his recovery has been astonishing. He is scheduled to undergo his 10th surgery Friday.

He has movement in all his limbs. He is breathing on his own. And on Christmas Day, he opened his mouth and spoke for the first time since the accident. [continued]
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22502580/

How did he survive?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/01/resolved_for_2008_lets_not_use_the_word.php"

No, it does not. Improbable? Yes? Amazingly improbable? Sure. But a "miracle"? I don't think so. It's not even unprecedented. There are records of people surviving falls from airplanes after their parachutes failed to open.

Moreno certainly did have some devastating injuries, as the article describes:


Survival is rare for falls greater than 10 stories. In urban environments, falls of three stories or more are associated with high mortality, particularly in adults. However, the height of the fall is not the sole risk factor for mortality. Moreno himself suffered multiple fractures, internal injuries, and massive bleeding. Indeed, the fact that his main fractures were lower extremities fractures suggests that he landed feet first, which is one factor that can increase the chance of surviving a high fall. That Moreno didn't suffer a major head injury also suggests this possibility. Another factor mentioned in the article is that he may have been holding on to the scaffolding as he fell. If the scaffolding was still attached to the rest of the structure, this could well have slowed his fall or even broken it, a possibility suggested by reports that paramedics found him lying on top of the remains of the collapsed scaffolding while his brother's body was apparently found lying partially underneath the wreckage. Moreover, in the same report it was stated that Moreno might have followed training that window washers are taught to maximize the possibility of survival if their scaffolding ever gives way:

Also, let's not forget the skillful intervention of the paramedics and trauma team, as well as the excellent care that they provided.
 
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That [regarding miracles] was just the title used in the news headline. This is not about religion.

The irrelevant links were deleted and the title changed in order to prevent further confusion.
 
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Skydiving miracle: Man falls two miles
Expert jumper Michael Holmes survived a parachute malfunction

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17113222/

Well he did land in a bush, and it looks like he was slowed by the reserve, but still.


Skydiver's parachute fails; survives fall from 10,000 feet
http://www.5newsonline.com/Global/story.asp?S=4234556&nav=2uEG


Skydiver survives incredible 3,000ft fall
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=401665&in_page_id=1770


Pregnant Skydiver Survives Face-First Fall
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8EFD67G0&show_article=1
and the baby was saved.