How Did a Man Survive a 47-Story Fall?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the survival of Alcides Moreno, a window washer who fell 47 stories from a Manhattan skyscraper. Participants explore the factors contributing to his survival, including the nature of his injuries, the circumstances of the fall, and comparisons to other survival cases from high falls. The conversation encompasses medical, physical, and anecdotal perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that survival from falls greater than 10 stories is rare, but Moreno's case is not unprecedented, citing records of others who have survived similar falls.
  • It is suggested that Moreno's lower extremity fractures indicate he may have landed feet first, which could increase the chance of survival.
  • Others propose that if Moreno was holding onto the scaffolding during the fall, it might have slowed his descent or mitigated the impact, as he was found on top of the collapsed scaffolding.
  • Participants mention the importance of the medical response, highlighting the role of paramedics and trauma teams in his recovery.
  • Some argue against the notion of a "miracle," emphasizing that while improbable, such survivals can be explained through physical factors and training.
  • Comparisons are drawn to other survival stories from high falls, with links to cases of skydivers who survived parachute malfunctions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of Moreno's survival, with some emphasizing miraculous elements while others focus on physical explanations. There is no consensus on the terminology used to describe his survival, nor on the implications of the circumstances surrounding the fall.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge various factors that could influence survival outcomes, such as landing technique, the condition of the scaffolding, and the quality of medical intervention. However, these factors remain speculative and are not universally agreed upon.

Ivan Seeking
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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?
 
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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.