A 61-year-old Connecticut man dislocated his shoulder and hurt his back after slipping on wet granite near the summit of Mount Washington this week — and kept hiking anyway, eventually popping the shoulder back into place himself before reaching the top.
Kurt Siuzdak, of Connecticut, started his hike around 4 a.m. Tuesday. About six hours in, around 10 a.m., he slipped on a wet granite slab in the Lakes of the Clouds area, dislocating his shoulder and injuring his back. He was roughly a mile and a half from the summit at the time.
Rather than turn back, Siuzdak decided to keep moving slowly and steadily toward the top. Another hiker found him about five hours later. Siuzdak told rescuers he intended to reach the summit first and then figure out his options.
Two New Hampshire Fish and Game officers hiked down to meet him around 5 p.m. He was still making slow progress up the mountain. With an officer on either side, he continued climbing and ultimately reached the summit under his own power.
At some point during the ordeal, Siuzdak managed to reset his dislocated shoulder himself, according to officials.
Once at the top, emergency personnel evaluated him. He then asked to be driven to his car so he could drive himself to urgent care.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which reported the incident in a Wednesday statement, praised Siuzdak’s preparedness. He had packed extra gear recommended by the agency, including warm clothing and a first aid kit.
“These items turned out to be much needed after his accident, and he was thankful that he had heeded the recommendations,” officials said, according to The Boston Globe, which first reported the statement Thursday.
Fox News Digital said it reached out to both Siuzdak and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for comment.
