22 key words from the article (reference)
someone who is extremely enthusiastic about sports
"Hank Carlson, a 30-year-old sports fanatic and mountain climber from New Mexico, USA, found himself between a rock and a hard place."
part of the idiom "between a rock and a hard place" — trapped in a difficult situation with no good options
"Hank Carlson found himself between a rock and a hard place when a 500kg rock came crashing down a canyon to smash his right hand and trap it against the canyon wall."
to break or crush something violently
"A 500kg rock came crashing down a canyon to smash his right hand and trap it against the canyon wall."
failed to happen; did not take place as planned
"At the last minute, Hank's plans for a trip with his climbing partners had fallen through, so he decided to head out on his own to the Rock Top canyon."
to leave, especially to begin a journey
"He decided to head out on his own to the Rock Top canyon."
alone, without anyone else
"He decided to head out on his own to the Rock Top canyon."
extreme, and having a sudden, serious effect
"Hank realized he would die there if he didn't do something drastic."
a plan or way of dealing with a situation
"The course of action was horrific, but there was no other way."
causing horror; extremely shocking or frightening
"The course of action was horrific, but there was no other way."
to surgically remove a limb or part of the body
"He would have to amputate his right hand."
strips of material used to fasten, secure, or hold something in place
"He had some straps that he could use to make a tourniquet to stop himself from bleeding to death."
a tight band used to stop the flow of blood to a limb
"He had some straps that he could use to make a tourniquet to stop himself from bleeding to death."
the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery
"On the fourth day he found the courage to try a knife blade of the tool."
the sharp, flat cutting part of a knife
"On the fourth day he found the courage to try a knife blade of the tool."
a sudden and powerful release or increase of something
"With a final burst of energy he broke both bones in his arm and freed himself."
a very unpleasant and prolonged, difficult experience
"The ordeal was not over, though."
the quality of being clever, original, and inventive
"Despite his ingenuity and all his efforts, he would have bled to death if it hadn't been for a very happy coincidence."
a remarkable occurrence of events happening at the same time by chance
"He would have bled to death if it hadn't been for a very happy coincidence."
above one's head; in the sky
"The moment he got out of the canyon into the open desert a rescue helicopter just happened to be flying overhead."
remembered; brought back to mind
"Carlson recalled a vision he had of a young 3-year old boy in a red shirt running across a room."
an experience of seeing something in one's imagination, like a dream or mental image
"Carlson recalled a vision he had of a young 3-year old boy in a red shirt running across a room."
firmness of purpose; the resolve to do something despite difficulty
"It was at that point, he found the determination to do something drastic to save his own life."