Nurse impaled by pole during hike forced to trek 10 miles for help: 'A freak thing'

articleA wound care clinic nurse survived a freak hiking accident — and impressively hiked 10 miles to safety after suffering a serious injury. David Cifaldi, who previously worked as an emergency room nurse, was impaled by a trekking pole while climbing Montana's Granite Peak on July 20. Cifaldi was hiking with two friends before the accident occurred, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help him. Cifaldi, who works at a local wound care clinic, self-assessed the situation "calmly," his friend wrote. "No bleeding, full feeling, no lightheadedness, nothing vital hit, and the pole stable in place," said the GoFundMe page.