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As Warren struggled to stay alive, Geert finally reached the base of the mountain and got a helicopter rescue crew to set off on a search. Amazingly, the crew spotted Warren's arm from the air and touched down. Though he was still alive, Warren was fading fast. He was in such bad shape that a doctor in the rescue crew assumed Warren was already dead.
The rescuers were able to free Warren approximately 45 hours after he was first crushed under the boulder. Both of Warren's legs had to be amputated.
Warren says he had no choice but to hold on for life. "I think we all have this built in survival mechanism," he says. "I used to joke, 'What do you think I might have done? Hold my breath? Strangle myself?' But we have to survive. I discovered that we've got this incredible power [to stay alive]."
Geert says the entire experience was one he'll never forget. "First finding him. Realizing that I couldn't get him out after working with him all night. Having to leave him behind in the morning, it was very hard," he says.
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