CHAPATTI MAN, MOUNTAINEER
ALAN HINKES, SLIPS DISC AGAIN
Mountaineer Alan Hinkes, who hit the headlines
around the world in 1997 when he sneezed
on some chapatti flour whilst on a Himalayan
mountain and slipped a disc, has injured
his back again. Alan has probably slipped
the same disc, but this time it went as
he bent over to pick up a rock shoe whilst
at home preparing to go out on the nearby
Yorkshire hills.
In 1997 Alan was climbing on Nanga Parbat
(8125m), the ninth highest mountain in the
world, when he sneezed on some chapatti
flour and prolapsed a disc. He lay in agony
in his tent for ten days with very few pain
killers at a height of about 4000m. He could
not be rescued by helicopter at that height
because the air is too thin. Eventually
he managed to drag himself down slightly
lower to a height where he could be rescued
and he was taken off to hospital for treatment.
He made a full recovery and the following
year returned to Nanga Parbat and successfully
reached the summit.
In the spring of this year, Alan attempted
to climb the third highest mountain in the
world, Kangchenjunga, but he was beaten
back close to the summit by appalling weather.
On the descent an ice bridge over a crevasse
collapsed under him and he fell in and broke
a bone in his elbow. In considerable pain
he managed to descend to base camp with
only one useable arm. He has been receiving
treatment for his arm in the UK since his
return
in June.
On Wednesday last week, whilst preparing
for some training on the Yorkshire hills,
Alan bent down to pick up his rock shoe
and his back went again. He was immediately
in agony and over the weekend has found
it increasingly difficult to move.
"I can't believe that my back has gone
again," said Alan flat on his back
at home. "There was very little sign
that it was about to go and it was such
a small movement that set it off. On Wednesday
I was just stuck to the floor - I couldn't
move I was in such agony. My injured arm
has meant that I have not been training
properly; I haven't been doing much rock
climbing which I found helped my back to
get its strength back last time. I may well
not be fully mobile for another three weeks
which is very frustrating. I shall do everything
I can to get myself back to fitness again."
Alan is receiving twice daily physiotherapy
treatment and will have an MRI scan at hospital
later this week.
