WHOO!
I'M BEAR GRYLLS.
I GO TO SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH
TO SHOW YOU WANT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.
I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE, FACING CHALLENGES
IN THE SORT OF PLACES YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY
WITHOUT THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS.
[ GRUNTS ]
NOW I'M IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, HIGH IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
I USUALLY HEAD OUT INTO THE WILD,
BUT THIS WEEK, USING SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT,
WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE WILD TO ME SO I CAN SHOW YOU
HOW TO SURVIVE THE MOST EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS.
MY TEAM WILL GIVE MOTHER NATURE A HELPING HAND
TO ENSURE CONDITIONS ARE AS BAD AS THEY CAN GET.
WE'RE GOING BIGGER, BETTER, AND MORE AMBITIOUS
THAN EVER BEFORE.
I'LL BATTLE THE BONE-CHILLING WATERS OF A FROZEN LAKE...
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP EYES ON ME, OKAY?
...BEFORE SWIMMING 40 FOOT UNDER SOLID ICE...
I'M WET, COLD, AND I'VE GOT TO ACT FAST.
Bombs away.
...BLAST A RIDGELINE
TO SET OFF A HUGE AVALANCHE...
THEN GET BURIED ALIVE TO EXPERIENCE
THE SUFFOCATING CONDITIONS OF THE AFTERMATH.
I CAN'T MOVE, AND I CAN'T BREATHE PROPERLY.
I TRY TO FIND SHELTER IN THE MIDDLE OF A MANMADE BLIZZARD
BEFORE FROSTBITE SETS IN...
UP HERE, YOU COULD HAVE MINUS-40.
IN HERE, IT'S GONNA BE WAY, WAY WARMER.
...AND CAREEN DOWN THE ICY MOUNTAIN
AT OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR
TO SHOW YOU HOW TO PULL OFF A LIFESAVING MOVE.
VERY FAST -- FASTER THAN WE EXPECTED.
BUT WHEN YOU PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS,
SOMETIMES YOU'RE GONNA GET HURT.
[ THUD ] UGH!
IT FELT LIKE HITTING A WALL. I THOUGHT I'D KILLED HIM.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Grylls: WE'RE HEADING UP INTO THE SUBZERO MOUNTAINS
OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES FOR A TWO-DAY EXPEDITION,
BUT THIS TIME WE'VE NOT ONLY GOT THE NORMAL FILM KIT,
WE'VE ALSO GOT A LOAD OF OTHER TOYS AS WELL.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE'RE GONNA PUT MY BODY
AND MY SURVIVAL SKILLS TO THE ULTIMATE TEST.
WHEN ALL THE GEAR HAS BEEN LOADED,
WE FIRE UP THE SNOWCATS AND HEAD OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS.
OUR FIRST DESTINATION -- THE MOUNTAIN RIDGES.
OUR CONVOY IS HEADING HIGH TOWARDS THE SNOW-COVERED PEAKS,
WHERE WE PLAN TO SET OFF OUR OWN FULL-SCALE AVALANCHE,
THEN COVER ME WITH OVER HALF A TON OF SNOW
TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE BURIED ALIVE.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GET KILLED IN AVALANCHES EVERY YEAR.
AND THAT NUMBER IS RISING AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
VENTURE OUT INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY,
SKIING AND SNOWMOBILING.
AND I'VE WITNESSED AVALANCHES CLOSE UP BEFORE,
AND THEY ARE TERRIFYING.
95% OF AVALANCHES OCCUR IN THE 24 HOURS
FOLLOWING A STORM AND A BIG DUMP OF SNOW.
THE QUICK PILEUP OVERLOADS THE UNDERLYING SNOWPACK
AND CAUSES ANY WEAK LAYERS BENEATH THE SLAB TO FRACTURE.
SEE THAT COMING STRAIGHT OFF THE MOUNTAIN?
AVALANCHE, AND THIS IS WHY THIS AREA IS SO DANGEROUS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND HERE, GUYS.
THAT WHOLE SLAB JUST DROPPED.
TODAY WE'RE BACK IN THE MOUNTAINS,
AND WE'RE GONNA SET OFF OUR OWN FULL-SCALE AVALANCHE
TO SEE ITS DEADLY EFFECTS.
IF ALL GOES TO PLAN,
THE WHOLE MOUNTAINSIDE WILL COME CRASHING DOWN.
TO TRIGGER THE AVALANCHE, THE TEAM WILL DROP
FOUR 28-POUND CHARGES FROM A HELICOPTER.
Hello, Dave. This is Danny, over.
WE'RE ALREADY HEADING UP THE MOUNTAIN.
AND WE'RE HOPING FOR A BIG ONE,
BUT IT'S WAY TOO DANGEROUS FOR ANY HUMAN.
INSTEAD, WE'LL PLACE A LIFE-SIZED REPLICA SKIER
IN THE AVALANCHE FALL LINE.
IT'S FITTED WITH A TRANSCEIVER
WHICH IS USED BY BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS.
IT SENDS OUT A SIGNAL WHICH RESCUERS CAN TRACK,
EVEN IF IT'S BURIED DEEP.
ONCE THE AVALANCHE IS TRIGGERED,
WE'LL SEND IN THE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE GUYS,
SEE HOW LONG IT ACTUALLY TAKES THEM TO REACH THE DUMMY.
AND THEN THE TEAM ARE GONNA BURY ME IN THE SNOW
AND SEE IF I WOULD HAVE LASTED LONG ENOUGH
FOR THEM TO REACH ME AND MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.
ONCE THE DANGER ZONE IS CLEARED,
WE CALL IN THE HELICOPTER.
MAN: All right, we're gonna turn to the left there,
right around there to the left.
Okay, Nick, you ready?
Yeah. Yeah, go ahead and throw bombs.
HOVERING 20 FEET ABOVE THE SUMMIT,
THEY'RE TAKING THEIR POSITIONS.
NOW THEY START THEIR BOMBING RUN.
Igniter on.
Bombs away.
THE HELI TEAM WILL DROP FOUR CHARGES,
BUT THE CLOCK'S ALREADY TICKING.
THESE BOMBS HAVE TWO-MINUTE FUSES.
THE CHOPPER MUST BE 500 YARDS AWAY FROM THE EXPLOSION,
OR THE SHOCK WAVE WILL KNOCK THEM OUT OF THE SKY.
THE MOUNTAIN IS MOVING.
AVALANCHES CAN TRAVEL OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR,
AND THIS ONE IS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR OUR SKIER.
HE'S HIT HARD AND BURIED DEEP.
OKAY, SO, RESCUE TEAM IN POSITION THERE.
LET'S GET THEM GOING.
NICK, HELLO. IT'S BEAR. DO YOU COPY, OVER?
Go ahead, Bear.
OKAY, BUDDY, LET'S EXECUTE THE SEARCH.
EXECUTE THE SEARCH, OVER.
Grylls: OKAY, THAT'S THE CLOCK TICKING.
LET'S SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM.
MOST AVALANCHE VICTIMS DIE OF SUFFOCATION.
TIME IS YOUR ENEMY.
IF NOBODY REACHES YOU WITHIN 45 MINUTES,
YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE ONLY 20%.
AFTER TWO HOURS, THAT DROPS TO ALMOST ZERO.
USING THE TRANSCEIVER TO LOCATE THE BURIED SKIER,
THEY FOLLOW THE SIGNAL IN, THEN START TO PROBE.
AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE PROBE HITS SOMETHING.
NICK: Bear, we have a strike.
WELL DONE, BUDDY, WELL DONE.
THESE GUYS HAVE PULLED OUT REAL AVALANCHE VICTIMS,
BOTH DEAD AND ALIVE.
THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
GET THE SNOW ON HIM RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT THERE. I'LL GET THE FRONT.
DIGGING A VICTIM OUT IS NO EASY TASK.
JUST BURIED THREE FOOT UNDER,
OUR SKIER IS COVERED BY OVER HALF A TON OF SNOW.
ALL RIGHT, THERE'S A STRIKE.
WHAT DO YOU SEE DOWN THERE? WHAT DO YOU SEE?
THEY DIG FOR THREE MINUTES
BEFORE THEY START TO UNCOVER HIM.
WE GOT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD, NICK? RIGHT ON.
WE'VE GOT THE FACE.
Bear, from Nick, we've got the face exposed.
OKAY, GOOD JOB.
THAT IS...
8 MINUTES, 15 SECONDS.
GOOD WORK, TEAM. OKAY, BEAR OUT.
OUR SKIER WAS UNDER FOR MORE THAN EIGHT MINUTES.
IT'S MY TURN.
THE TEAM MOVE OUT TO A NEW LOCATION
FOR THE SECOND STAGE OF THIS CHALLENGE.
I'M ABOUT TO BE BURIED ALIVE.
THEY'RE DIGGING A DEEP SNOW HOLE TO PUT ME IN,
AND THIS TEST WILL SIMULATE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE COVERED
BY 12 FEET OF SNOW.
MANY DIE JUST TWO FEET UNDER.
SO, WHAT I'M GONNA BE DOING IS BREATHING THROUGH THIS TUBE,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE BURIED DEEP UNDER THE SNOW,
AND IT'S EFFECTIVELY RESTRICTING
THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN THAT I'M GETTING,
WHICH SIMULATES BEING BURIED IN AN AVALANCHE.
AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS RESTRICTED OXYGEN BEFORE,
HIGH ON EVEREST,
AND IT'S DEFINITELY A VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING THING TO GO THROUGH,
VERY DISEMPOWERING,
'CAUSE YOU'RE SUCKING, BUT NOTHING'S FILLING YOUR LUNGS.
IF I'M HONEST, I'M DEFINITELY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS IS SO DANGEROUS, I'VE BEEN HOOKED UP TO MONITORS
THAT SHOW CARBON-DIOXIDE LEVELS AND BLOOD SATS --
THE OXYGEN LEVELS IN MY BODY.
IT'S A GOOD INDICATOR OF ASPHYXIATION.
IF ANY OF THESE GO OFF THE SCALE,
THEY'VE ONLY GOT SECONDS TO GET ME OUT.
[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]
ONCE I'M IN POSITION, THE TEAM START TO DIG ME IN.
THEN THEY FIRE UP THE SNOWBLOWER.
AND WITHIN SECONDS, I'M COMPLETELY COVERED.
DEEP UNDER THE SNOW, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR MY CREW,
BUT BY PLUNGING A SMALL CAMERA DOWN A STRETCH OF PIPING,
THEY CAN GET THE SHOT OF ME BURIED IN MY SNOW COFFIN.
I LOST A CLOSE FRIEND TO AVALANCHE.
HER BODY WAS NEVER FOUND.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WAS INVINCIBLE.
AND SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD A WARY RESPECT FOR AVALANCHES.
IN TRUTH, I'M SCARED OF THEM.
THIS TUBE SIMULATES A BURIAL AT 12 FEET
AND HEAVILY RESTRICTS MY BREATHING,
AND ALREADY THIS FEELS WAY TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
BEAR, THAT'S A MINUTE.
YOUR BLOOD SATS ARE GOOD, BUT THE CO2 IS BUILDING UP.
FEELS LIKE A LOT MORE THAN A MINUTE.
I'm not enjoying this.
IT'S, YOU KNOW,
JUST VERY, VERY CLAUSTROPHOBIC, YOU KNOW.
WHEN THE SNOW FROM AN AVALANCHE SETTLES,
IT SETS LIKE CONCRETE.
YOU CAN'T BREAK FREE FROM ITS ICY GRIP,
AND ITS PRESSURE IS CRUSHING.
[ GASPING ]
Really noticing the cold much more now.
Feel really, really woozy.
AH, IT'S HORRIBLE.
Can't move.
AND I CAN'T BREATHE PROPERLY.
UTTERLY POWERLESS.
GET BURIED BY AN AVALANCHE,
AND THE MAJOR KILLER IS CARBON DIOXIDE.
AS YOU EXHALE, IT FILLS THE SPACE AROUND YOUR MOUTH,
AND EVENTUALLY YOU ASPHYXIATE.
WE'RE AT THE THRESHOLD NOW, BEAR.
YOU'VE GOT LESS THAN 12% OXYGEN.
CARBON-DIOXIDE LEVELS ARE RISING SHARPLY NOW.
AS THE OXYGEN LEVEL PLUMMETS,
IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER TO BREATHE.
JUST MASSIVE URGE TO NEED TO BREATHE MORE.
WHEN YOU PUSH YOUR CHEST UP
AND TRY AND TAKE A BREATH, IT DOESN'T SATISFY YOU.
WE'VE HIT 8:15, THE TIME OUR SKIER WAS BURIED,
BUT THE AIR NOW IS RUNNING OUT,
AND I'M STRUGGLING FOR EVERY BREATH.
Bombs away.
I'M HIGH IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES,
WHERE WE'VE JUST SET OFF A HUGE AVALANCHE.
NOW MY TEAM HAVE BURIED ME DEEP UNDER THE SNOW
SO I CAN EXPERIENCE THE SUFFOCATING CONDITIONS
OF THE AFTERMATH.
[ GASPING ]
THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING MY BODY FOR OVER EIGHT MINUTES.
NOW THE AIR IS RUNNING OUT,
AND I'M STRUGGLING FOR EVERY BREATH.
Pearce: BEAR, YOUR BLOOD SATS ARE BELOW 85.
WE'RE GETTING THE DIGGERS IN NOW.
OKAY, GUYS, GO.
IN THE E.R., ALARM BELLS START RINGING
WHEN PATIENTS' BLOOD SATS HIT 92.
MINE ARE DOWN TO 82.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE OXYGEN IN MY BLOOD.
THEY'VE GOT TO GET ME OUT OF HERE FAST.
[ COUGHING ]
COME ON, GET THE WEIGHT OFF MY CHEST.
KEEP SHOVELING ON THE LOWER PART OF THE BODY.
OH, MAN.
[ COUGHS ]
SO POWERLESS WHEN YOU CAN'T BREATHE.
BUT LITERALLY, AS SOON AS THAT OXYGEN COMES IN,
IT'S LIKE SOMEONE TURNING THE LIGHT ON, YOU KNOW?
HEY, YOU ALL RIGHT, MAN?
JUST NEED HUMAN CONTACT.
MAN, YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU ALL RIGHT?
GIVE US A HUG. YEAH. HEY.
WARM UP. GOOD JOB.
THAT TOUGH?
I DIDN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.
I NEVER WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
LESSON IS...
NEVER, EVER GET IN AN AVALANCHE.
YOU KNOW, PLAN WHERE YOU'RE GOING,
THINK SMART,
AND DON'T TAKE UNNECESSARY RISKS.
I'VE WITNESSED THE DESTRUCTIVE FORCE OF AN AVALANCHE...
AND SURVIVED THE AFTERMATH.
NOW I'LL FACE ANOTHER OF NATURE'S KILLERS, THE BLIZZARD.
IN THE WILD, IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHEN STORMS WILL HIT.
BUT USING OUR SPECIALIST GEAR, IT'S NO PROBLEM.
MY TEAM WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I'VE BEEN CAUGHT IN A BLIZZARD BEFORE IN ICELAND.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD 40-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS,
SUBZERO TEMPERATURES, VISIBILITY ALMOST ZERO.
TRUST ME, IT JUST BECOMES A NIGHTMARE.
AS TEMPERATURES DIVE AND WIND CHILL RISES,
THE ONSET OF FROSTBITE IS NEVER FAR AWAY.
GETTING OUT OF THE WIND CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO SURVIVE NATURE AT ITS WORST
BY RECREATING MY OWN PERFECT STORM.
I'VE PULLED IN TWO WIND MACHINES.
SWITCH THESE ON, AND WE'LL HAVE OUR OWN INSTANT BLIZZARD.
THESE GUYS CAN PUMP OUT WINDS UP TO 45 MILES AN HOUR.
AND IT'S BELOW FREEZING NOW, SO WHEN THESE GUYS GET GOING,
THAT TEMPERATURE IS JUST GONNA PLUMMET.
TO MEASURE THE WIND SPEED AND WIND CHILL,
WE'VE SET UP TWO SMALL WEATHER STATIONS --
ONE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE BLAST OF THE MACHINES,
THE OTHER ONE WILL BE WITH ME RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT.
TO MAKE THINGS EVER COLDER,
WE'RE GONNA WAIT FOR THE SUN TO GO DOWN.
BUT WE'LL NEED LIGHT.
Come this way a little bit.
ONCE THE SNOWCATS ARE PUT INTO POSITION, WE'RE READY TO GO.
Stop there. Whoa.
Just gonna eyeball that from the other side, Tim, okay?
Hold on.
THEN, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS, WE FIRE UP THE SPOTS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS THAT PEOPLE DIE IN BLIZZARDS
IS THAT THEY PUSH ON, TRY AND BATTLE THE ELEMENTS,
WHEN ACTUALLY THEY SHOULD JUST STOP.
IF YOU'VE GOT HIGH WINDS, DIFFICULT TERRAIN,
AND ZERO VISIBILITY,
IF YOU PUSH ON, IT'S FUTILE.
IT'S LIKE BEING ON A TREADMILL.
IT'S GONNA BEAT YOU, AND YOU'RE GONNA DIE.
YOUR NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY IS PROTECTION,
AND IN THIS CASE,
IT'S PROTECTION FROM THE WIND AND FROM THE COLD.
OKAY, FIRE IT UP, GUYS.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
GOT TO TRY AND COVER UP, BEST YOU CAN, ANY EXPOSED SKIN.
OKAY, GET INTO THIS.
AS THE WIND CHILL KICKS IN, THE TEMPERATURE DIVES.
IN WINDS THIS HIGH, FROSTBITE CAN SET IN IN MINUTES,
AND THERE'S NO NATURAL SHELTER HERE.
MY ONLY OPTION IS TO DIG.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD PLACE TO DIG A SNOW HOLE.
YOU WANT A LEE SLOPE WITH A BIG BUILDUP
OF POWDERED SNOW FROM THE WIND.
ALSO, IF YOU DIG INTO THE SLOPE, WHEN YOU'RE SHOVELING,
GRAVITY IS GONNA TAKE THE SNOW DOWN AWAY FROM YOU.
LET GRAVITY DO THE WORK.
IT'S BEST TO DIG HORIZONTALLY INTO THE SNOW FACE.
DIG DOWNWARDS, AND YOU'LL CREATE A WELL,
AND ALL THE COLD AIR WILL SINK ON TOP OF YOU.
OKAY, WE'RE READY.
WE'RE ONLY JUST DIGGING IN LIKE ONE OR TWO FEET,
I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SHELTER FROM THE WIND.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WIND UP HERE...
...READING 45 MILES AN HOUR,
BUT DOWN HERE...
WELL, IT'S ONLY READING ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR.
THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN WIND SPEEDS.
AND WIND SPEEDS CORRELATE TO WIND CHILL.
UP HERE, YOU CAN HAVE MINUS-40.
IN HERE, IT'S GONNA BE WAY, WAY WARMER.
LET'S KEEP DIGGING.
WITH TIME RUNNING AGAINST YOU,
IT'S VITAL THAT YOU DIG A VERY BASIC SNOW HOLE.
MAKE IT JUST BIG ENOUGH TO SQUEEZE YOUR BODY INTO.
ONCE YOU'RE IN,
PULL ANY LOOSE BLOCKS OF SNOW AROUND THE OPENING
TO HELP KEEP OUT THE FREEZING-COLD WIND.
OKAY, WELL, I'M OUT OF ALMOST ALL OF THE WIND IN HERE.
IT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND ALL IT IS IS A LITTLE BOLT HOLE,
LITTLE ESCAPE CHAMBER THAT, IN THIS SORT OF WIND,
COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
OKAY, INTO THE SNOW CAVE.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT SNOW IS THAT IT'S A GREAT INSULATOR.
WHATEVER THE WEATHER OUTSIDE,
IT'S GONNA BE A PRETTY CONSTANT 32 DEGREES IN HERE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S A HARD 15, 20 MINUTES
TO MAKE THIS SORT OF THING.
YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF
WORKING HARD GETTING OUT OF THE WEATHER
THAN TRUDGING FOR HOUR AFTER HOUR
INTO A BLIZZARD, GETTING NOWHERE.
SO I CAN JUST SIT AND LET THE STORM BLOW ITSELF OUT,
OR, IN THIS CASE, LET THE WIND MACHINES BLOW THEMSELVES OUT.
A GROUP OF SKIERS WERE RECENTLY TRAPPED
IN 60-MILE-AN-HOUR BLIZZARDS IN THE ROCKIES.
THEY SHELTERED IN SNOW HOLES LIKE THIS ONE,
AND IT SAVED THEIR LIVES.
AFTER FOUR DAYS IN THE WILD,
ALL FIVE MADE THEIR WAY TO SAFETY.
IN THESE SUBZERO CONDITIONS,
STAYING WARM AND DRY IS YOUR NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.
IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE,
I TAKE ON THE FREEZING WATERS OF AN ICE-COVERED LAKE...
INSTANTLY, I FEEL MY HEART RATE
JUST GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ROOF.
...TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SURVIVE THESE CHILLING WATERS.
MY TEAM AND I ARE IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES,
CARRYING OUT AN EXPERIMENT,
RECREATING THE WORST THAT MOTHER NATURE CAN THROW AT YOU.
IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE,
I TAKE THE PLUNGE
INTO THE FREEZING WATERS OF AN ICE-COVERED LAKE.
I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF COLD ENVIRONMENTS IN MY LIFE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THEY'RE TESTING.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BURN UP
AN INSANE AMOUNT OF ENERGY OUT HERE.
THE BATTLE IS TO STAY WARM AND DRY.
ONCE YOU GET WET,
YOUR BODY STARTS TO LOSE HEAT 25 TIMES FASTER.
OKAY, LET'S GET INTO THIS.
BUT IN A DYNAMIC SURVIVAL SITUATION
WHERE YOU PLAN TO WALK YOUR OWN WAY TO SALVATION,
SOMETIMES YOU'VE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE...
WHOA, OKAY, WE'RE IN.
...EVEN IF IT IS AN ICE-COVERED RIVER.
WHEN YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH THE WILD,
YOU CAN NEVER PREDICT WHAT OBSTACLES LIE AHEAD.
BUT TODAY I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT.
MY TEAM ARE WITH ME TO GIVE NATURE A HELPING HAND
AND ENSURE THAT I FACE HER AT HER WILDEST.
TEMPERATURE'S WELL BELOW FREEZING.
YOU CAN SEE WE'VE GOT A BIG FROZEN LAKE IN FRONT OF US HERE.
AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS CUT A CHANNEL ACTUALLY INTO THE ICE
AND THEN SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS
IF YOU FALL THROUGH THE ICE AND GET SUBMERGED.
IT'S GONNA BE A COLD ONE.
EVERY YEAR IN CANADA, 45 PEOPLE FALL THROUGH THE ICE
AND DIE FROM COLD-WATER IMMERSION.
THE DANGER IS VERY REAL.
TEMPERATURES RECENTLY DIVED TO MINUS-40 DEGREES HERE,
AND THE ICE WAS A FOOT THICK.
THE CREW WILL MONITOR MY VITAL SIGNS
AS I SWIM UNDER AN 18-FOOT ICE BRIDGE,
NEGOTIATE A LONG, OPEN CHANNEL,
AND THEN TAKE ON ANOTHER BRIDGE,
THIS ONE TWICE AS LONG.
Man: DIVER GOING IN THE WATER.
A DIVER GOES IN FOR ONE FINAL CHECK.
THE DANGER FOR ME HERE IS VERY CLEAR.
IF I SWIM OFF AT AN ANGLE AND MISS THAT EXIT HOLE,
I'LL BE TRAPPED UNDER THE ICE.
THE CREW WILL FILM ME ABOVE AND BELOW THE SURFACE,
AND TO SHOW MY HEAT LOSS,
THEY'LL USE A THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA.
BLUE IS COLD. RED, WHITE IS HOT.
SO IF I PUT MY HAND, SO YOU CAN SEE MY HAND
AT THE MOMENT IS WARM, RED AND WHITE.
SO, IF IT GOES IN THE WATER...
THEN YOU CAN SEE A BLUE HAND.
LOOK AT THAT.
SO, WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH OF BEAR'S BODY TURNS BLUE.
THE THERMAL CAMERA WILL ONLY GET AN ACCURATE READING
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY BODY
IF IT CAN SEE EXPOSED SKIN.
TIME TO GET MY KIT OFF.
THERE'S NOTHING FUN
ABOUT STRIPPING OFF NICE, WARM LAYERS.
BEEN IN WATER THIS COLD BEFORE --
JUST PLAIN HORRIBLE.
WHOA. CHILLY PERKINS.
OKAY, WELL, I'M HOOKED UP TO THIS TRANSMITTER AS WELL.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY SHOWING MY HEART RATE
BUT ALSO MY BREATHING RATE.
IT'S ALL LINKED UP TO A LAPTOP
SO THE TEAM CAN MONITOR ME IN REAL TIME.
AND I'VE GOT A THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA
SHOWING MY SKIN TEMPERATURE.
OKAY, LET'S GET INTO THIS.
MY SKIN TEMPERATURE'S CURRENTLY 88 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
THAT'S ABOUT TO FALL DRAMATICALLY.
I'VE GOT TO SWIM OVER 80 FEET.
HALF OF THAT IS UNDER SOLID ICE.
OKAY. LET'S GO FOR THIS.
[ SIGHING ]
DO YOU KNOW, IT'S MUCH HARDER THAN NORMAL.
WHENEVER I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, IT'S BEEN PART OF A JOURNEY.
YOU COME ACROSS A RIVER. YOU JUST GET ON AND DO IT.
THIS IS MUCH MORE PREMEDITATED.
I FIND THAT HARDER.
Man: OKAY, GO.
OKAY, FIRST THING YOU'VE GOT TO DO
IS FIGHT THAT SENSE OF PANIC THAT'S VERY NATURAL
WHEN YOU'RE IN FREEZING-COLD WATER LIKE THIS.
AND INSTANTLY, I FEEL MY HEART RATE
JUST GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ROOF.
AND THE DANGER OF THAT IS CARDIAC ARREST.
YOU'VE GOT TO TRY AND SLOW IT.
SLOW IT, AND KEEP THAT PANIC AWAY.
OKAY, UNDER THE ICE.
THE DANGER FOR ME HERE, GUYS, IS NOT GETTING THE LINE RIGHT.
IF I START HEADING OFFLINE --
YOU GOT TO KEEP EYES ON ME, OKAY?
WE GOT NO SAFETY LINE HERE. NEED TO GET IT STRAIGHT.
SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AND CONTROLLING
YOUR REFLEXES.
WATCH AS MY HEART RATE DROPS
FROM 160 BEATS PER MINUTE TO 55.
IT'S KNOWN AS THE MAMMALIAN DIVE REFLEX.
WHEN YOUR FACE IS SUBMERGED IN COLD WATER,
THE HEART SLOWS DRAMATICALLY.
IT GIVES YOU VITAL EXTRA SECONDS
TO MAKE IT TO THE SURFACE.
[ GASPING ]
BURNING SENSATION IN THE EYES.
LITERALLY JUST NUMBS -- NUMBS YOUR VISION.
TWO MINUTES IN,
AND ALREADY MY BODY'S FALLING VICTIM TO THE COLD.
BLOOD VESSELS IN MY MUSCLES ARE CONSTRICTING,
STARVING THEM OF OXYGEN.
FATIGUE IS ALSO KICKING IN.
WELL, I CAN FEEL MY EXTREMITIES
ARE JUST BEGINNING TO SLOW UP HERE.
I'VE BEEN IN FOUR MINUTES NOW,
AND MY SKIN TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED OFF THE SCALE.
HIS SKIN TEMPERATURE'S GONE FROM 83 TO 32 DEGREES.
THAT'S FREEZING.
AND THE INUITS HAVE A THING TO TEST WHETHER THEIR HANDS
ARE GETTING TOO COLD WHEN THEY'RE FISHING.
IF THEY CAN NO LONGER TOUCH THEIR FINGER --
LITTLE FINGER -- AND THUMB TOGETHER,
IT MEANS THEY GOT TO START WARMING THEIR HANDS UP.
THE CLOCK'S TICKING.
STAY IN HERE ANOTHER FEW MINUTES,
AND YOU'D BE UNABLE TO SWIM.
AFTER 10 MINUTES, YOU'D BE UNCONSCIOUS AND DROWN.
THIS IS THE LONGEST ICE SWIM I'VE EVER ATTEMPTED.
CRIPPLED BY THE COLD, MY SWIMMING HAS BECOME LABORED.
IT'S A BIG ASK FOR MY ALREADY WEAKENED BODY.
UGH.
MY HEAD.
GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
WHAT YOU DO NEXT COULD MEAN
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
ACTUALLY FEEL QUITE FAINT.
GET STUCK LIKE THIS IN THE WILD WITHOUT ANY CREW,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO KICK INTO SURVIVAL MODE.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.
OKAY, I'M WET, COLD, AND I'VE GOT TO ACT FAST
BEFORE I START LOSING ALL FEELING.
PROBLEM IS I DON'T WANT
TO PUT THESE CLOTHES ON WHEN I'M THIS WET.
IT WOULD JUST MAKE THE CLOTHES WET.
I'M GONNA GET INTO THE SNOW AND ROLL IN IT.
AND WHAT POWDER SNOW WILL DO IS
ITS CRYSTALS WILL ABSORB A LOT OF THE MOISTURE,
JUST TAKE SOME OF THAT OFF ME SO I KEEP MY CLOTHES DRY.
OKAY, LET'S GET AN OUTER SHELL ON.
THE SNOW HAS DONE ITS JOB.
NOW TO GET MY CLOTHES BACK ON.
OH, GOD.
ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE MY TOES AND FINGERS
HAVE BEEN STUCK IN A FIRE.
IT'S A WEIRD SENSATION.
EXTREME COLD FEELS SORT OF LIKE EXTREME HEAT.
IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY PAINFUL AND ALMOST UNUSABLE.
ONCE YOU LEAVE THE FREEZING WATER,
YOUR BODY STARTS PUMPING BLOOD BACK TO THE EXTREMITIES.
IT'S KNOWN AS THE AFTERDROP,
AND WITH THE BLOOD DIVERTED,
YOUR CORE TEMPERATURE CAN THEN PLUMMET.
YOU NEED FIRE AND FAST.
OH, MY.
THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT GOLDEN FIVE MINUTES
AFTER YOU'VE BEEN IN EXTREME COLD WATER.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE COLD,
WHAT YOU HAVE WORKING FOR YOU IS ADRENALINE.
YOU'VE GOT TO USE THAT ADRENALINE JUST TO FIRE YOU,
TO KEEP YOU GOING UNTIL YOU'VE GOT A LIFESAVING FIRE.
ONCE YOU GOT YOUR FIRE,
YOU NEED TO GET A HOT DRINK BREWING STRAIGHTAWAY.
REALLY, WHAT I WANT IS SOME FOOD AND SOME SUGARS
TO REPLACE ALL THAT LOST ENERGY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, A BIT OF SPRUCE-NEEDLE TEA
WILL DO THE TRICK.
IT'S GONNA WARM ME, GIVE ME A BIT OF VITAMIN C.
ALSO, IT'LL JUST MAKE ME FEEL A LOAD BETTER AGAIN.
ON THERMAL IMAGING, YOU CAN SEE
THE BRIGHT WHITE CUP FULL OF BOILING-HOT TEA.
GET THAT INSIDE YOU,
AND IT WILL BEGIN TO STABILIZE YOUR CORE TEMPERATURE.
OF ALL THE ENVIRONMENTS,
IT'S EXTREME COLD THAT HITS ME THE HARDEST.
I'VE SUFFERED FROSTNIP BEFORE IN MY FINGERS AND TOES,
AND THE DAMAGED CAPILLARIES HAVE NEVER FULLY RECOVERED.
IT GETS ME EVERY TIME.
BOY, THAT WAS COLD.
THAT'S IT. I'M DONE WITH ICE SWIMS.
[ SIGHS ]
FIGHTING YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT
PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE.
IT TAKES YOU TO THE LIMIT...
[ THUD ] UGH!
...AND SOMETIMES BEYOND.
I'M IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES ON A SPECIAL MISSION.
TAKING CONTROL OF THE ELEMENTS,
WE'VE SET OFF AN AVALANCHE,
WHIPPED UP A BLIZZARD,
AND CARVED OUT A FROZEN LAKE.
FIGHTING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE WILD TO SAFETY
IS MY KIND OF SURVIVAL.
BUT SOMETIMES KNOWING WHEN AND WHERE TO STOP IS THE KEY.
OF ALL THE ENVIRONMENTS, IT'S THE COLD
WHERE A GOOD SHELTER
CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH --
KEEP YOU WARM, KEEP YOU DRY,
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH VERY COLD NIGHTS.
I'VE SPENT NIGHTS OUT IN SOME OF THE COLDEST PLACES ON EARTH,
PLACES WHERE THE TEMPERATURE DIVES ONCE THE SUN GOES DOWN.
I AM FREEZING, FREEZING COLD,
AND I'VE JUST LOOKED AT THE THERMOMETER ON THE CAMERA.
AND HAVE A LOOK. SEE WHAT IT'S READING.
IT'S SAYING MINUS-30 DEGREES.
AND REALLY, AT THE MOMENT,
THIS IS JUST BECOMING AN ENDURANCE EXERCISE.
BUILDING A SHELTER AND MAKING FIRE
TAKES TIME AND USES VITAL ENERGY RESERVES.
BUT IT'S ALWAYS WORTH THE EFFORT.
I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU WHAT DIFFERENCE THEY REALLY MAKE
TO SURVIVING LONG, COLD NIGHTS IN THE WILD.
OKAY, I WANT TO GET THIS CROSS MEMBER UP NICE AND HIGH.
AND I ALSO WANT THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE TO COME UP,
BE CAUGHT, AND CIRCULATE THROUGH MY SHELTER.
LAY SMALL BRANCHES OFF THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER,
IDEALLY COVERING THE FULL WIDTH OF YOUR SHELTER.
SPRUCE BOUGHS WILL ACT AS MY BEDDING.
TILED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER,
THEY ALSO MAKE A PERFECT ROOF FOR THE SHELTER.
START THATCHING THIS FROM THE BOTTOM UPWARDS.
IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME,
BUT JUST STACKING A FEW BRANCHES AND TWIGS TOGETHER
CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IT KEEPS THE WIND OUT AND HELPS KEEP YOU WARM.
SO, I'M WELL INSULATED FROM ABOVE,
WELL INSULATED FROM BELOW.
AND THEN IF I MAKE A DECENT FIRE HERE,
GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY NICE AND TOASTY.
LET'S GET A FIRE GOING.
THIS FIRE IS GOOD. IT'S GONNA KEEP ME WARM.
BUT IT COULD BE BETTER
IF I PUT IT THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE SHELTER,
JUST SPREAD IT OUT A BIT.
AND THAT WAY, IT'S GONNA KEEP ME WARM FROM HEAD TO TOE.
I CAN TELL IT IS WAY, WAY WARMER IN HERE BECAUSE OF THIS.
TO PROVE IT,
I'M GONNA SET UP A COUPLE OF THESE THERMOMETERS.
I'M GONNA LEAVE ONE HERE INSIDE THE SHELTER
AND THEN PUT ONE RIGHT OUT THERE.
AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE
BETWEEN THERE AND HERE IN THE MORNING.
WELL, THIS FIRE IS DEFINITELY KEEPING ME WARM.
TIME SPENT MAKING A DECENT SHELTER IS TIME WELL SPENT.
I CAN TELL THE TEMPERATURE OUT THERE --
WELL BELOW FREEZING, BUT IN HERE, LOOK AT THIS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS REGISTERING ABOUT 46, 47 DEGREES.
IT'S NO SAUNA,
BUT AT THIS TEMPERATURE, THERE'S MINIMUM RISK
OF ME GETTING HYPOTHERMIA OR FROSTBITE.
SO, THIS IS GOOD NEWS. I'M NICE AND WARM IN HERE.
MAKES A CHANGE.
THE NEXT MORNING, MY FIRE'S STILL ALIGHT.
IT KEPT ME WARM, BUT WHAT DIFFERENCE DID IT REALLY MAKE?
OKAY, LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THIS THING.
THIS MAXED OUT AT 66 DEGREES.
OKAY, LET'S CHECK OUT THE OTHER ONE.
66 DEGREES IS THE TEMPERATURE I LIKE TO KEEP MY HOME AT.
WOW.
YOU KNOW, THIS ONE WENT DOWN AS LOW AS 23 DEGREES.
IT'S WELL UNDER FREEZING, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WORKED.
IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH BUILDING THAT SHELTER RIGHT.
GOOD. OKAY.
GET PACKED UP, GET MOVING.
THIS REALLY SHOWS THAT HAVING THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS
CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
I'VE SURVIVED THE THREE BIG KILLERS OUT HERE --
AVALANCHE, BLIZZARD, AND FREEZING WATER.
BUT IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE, IT ALL GOES DOWNHILL...
VERY FAST -- FASTER THAN WE EXPECTED.
...WHEN WE GET IT WRONG
AND NEARLY PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
[ THUD ]
I'M IN BRITISH COLUMBIA IN DEEP WINTER,
WHERE I'VE SURVIVED THE CHILLING WATER OF A FROZEN LAKE.
GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
BACK ON SOLID GROUND,
THE TEAM AND I HEAD FOR THE HILLS.
THE SNOWCATS MAKE EASY WORK OF THESE CONDITIONS.
AND WITHOUT THEM,
IT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO.
IN WINTERTIME WITH THICK SNOW COVER,
MOVING ANYWHERE ON FOOT IS JUST HARD, HARD WORK.
YOU GET DEEP SNOW WELL UP TO YOUR WAIST,
AND YOUR PACE CAN REDUCE TO LITERALLY A CRAWL.
BUT ON STEEP GROUND, PACE IS THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES.
SLIP HERE, AND YOU'LL BE HEADING DOWNHILL FAST.
HITTING ROCKS AT SPEED COULD BE FATAL.
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO STOP YOUR SLIDE.
AS THE CONVOY CLIMBS, THE TERRAIN GETS STEEPER.
WE'RE HEADING FOR THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS,
WHERE I'LL FACE MY NEXT CHALLENGE --
A HIGH-SPEED GLISSADE.
OKAY, LET'S GO, GUYS.
TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SURVIVE A FALL IN TERRAIN
AS DEMANDING AND STEEP AS THIS,
I'M GONNA DELIBERATELY THROW MYSELF DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,
THEN TRY TO ARREST MY DESCENT.
BUT THIS DEEP WINTER SNOW IS TOO SOFT
TO STAND ANY CHANCE OF SLIDING.
OUR SNOWCAT, THOUGH, WILL SOON FIX THAT.
PLOWED OUT, THE TRACK WILL BE JUST LIKE SUMMER SNOW
THAT HAS THAWED AND REFROZEN --
HARD AND SLIPPY.
WHENEVER I'VE GLISSADED BEFORE,
I'VE ALWAYS HAD SOME MEANS OF ARRESTING MYSELF.
BUT THE REALITY IS MOST PEOPLE WHO FALL DON'T HAVE THAT.
AND I'VE WITNESSED THAT FIRSTHAND BEFORE,
WITH MY WIFE AND SON.
I TOOK A FALL ON A BIG MOUNTAIN,
ONLY JUST STOPPED SHORT OF A CLIFF, VERY NEARLY DIED.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE JUST HOW FAST
YOU PICK UP SPEED ON THESE SORT OF SLOPES.
UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BEAT GRAVITY.
TO SEE HOW FAST I GO,
THE TEAM HAVE SET UP A SPEED CAMERA ON THE SLOPE
AND MARKED A LINE IN THE SNOW WHERE I'LL START MY ARREST.
THEN WE'LL MEASURE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO STOP.
AND STOPPING FAST CAN SOMETIMES BE CRITICAL.
THE SLOPE'S READY. THE CAMERA CREW ARE IN POSITION.
TIME TO GET UP TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
OKAY, WELL, THIS IS THE TOP OF THE SLOPE.
AS IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH MOUNTAINS, THOUGH,
YOU GET UP THE TOP AND LOOK DOWN,
IT OFTEN LOOKS MUCH STEEPER.
WELL, YOU SEE DAVE HALFWAY DOWN WITH THE RADAR GUN.
AND I RECKON THIS IS GONNA BE QUITE FAST.
TO MAKE IT EVEN FASTER, I'M GONNA DITCH THE RUCKSACK --
THAT'S ONLY GONNA ACT AS RESISTANCE --
AND THEN ALSO TUCK MY JACKET INTO MY TROUSERS.
OKAY. I KIND OF SUSPECT THIS IS GONNA GET QUITE FAST.
ON THIS RUN, I'VE GOT NO ICE AXE.
TO STOP, YOU GOT TO ROLL OVER,
RAISE YOUR BODY UP,
AND DIG HARD INTO THE SNOW WITH YOUR HANDS AND FEET.
WHOO.
VERY FAST -- FASTER THAN EXPECTED.
BUT EXACTLY HOW FAST?
37 MILES AN HOUR.
YOU'D GET A TICKET
IN AN URBAN PLACE IN THE U.K. WITH THAT SPEED.
WITH NO ICE AXE,
STOPPING MY SLIDE WAS A REAL CHALLENGE.
IT TOOK 180 FEET.
THAT'S HALF THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
NOW TO HEAD BACK TO THE TOP AND TRY AGAIN,
THIS TIME WITH AN ICE AXE.
AND HOW MUCH QUICKER CAN I STOP?
AN ICE AXE LIKE THIS
CAN MASSIVELY HELP YOU ARREST THE FALL.
THE DANGER IS YOU'RE TRAVELING VERY FAST,
YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING VERY SHARP
VERY CLOSE TO YOUR BODY AND CLOSE TO YOUR HEAD.
IT JUST MEANS YOU GOT TO BE
ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OF YOUR TECHNIQUE BEFORE YOU GO.
OKAY, HITCH THESE UP AGAIN, DO MY SIMON COWELL.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
THIS TIME, I HIT 43 MILES AN HOUR,
WITH CAMERAMAN SIMON FILMING FROM A SLEDGE RIGHT BEHIND ME.
USING THE ICE AXE, I'M STOPPED DEAD IN 53 FEET.
BUT SIMON'S STILL GOING FLAT-OUT.
LOST IN THE SNOW CLOUD...
[ THUD ] UGH!
... HE PLOWS STRAIGHT INTO ME.
MAN: Is he okay? Is he okay?
STUNNED, THE TEAM FEAR THE WORST.
ME AND MY TEAM ARE IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES,
NEARING THE END OF OUR EXPERIMENT,
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
SLIDING DOWNHILL AT 45 MILES AN HOUR,
CAMERAMAN SIMON AND I HAVE JUST SUFFERED AN ENORMOUS IMPACT.
[ THUD ]
WITHIN SECONDS, THE SAFETY TEAM JUMP INTO ACTION.
BEAR, DO YOU WANT TO LIE DOWN, BUDDY?
MY LEG HAS SUSTAINED A MASSIVE IMPACT.
THE PAIN'S INTENSE, AND THE WORRY IS HAS MY FEMUR BROKEN?
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
ONCE I'M ON THE STRETCHER,
THEY MOVE ME TO A SNOWCAT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Rankin: BEAR'S GOT A BAD LEG INJURY.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BROKEN OR NOT.
WE HOPE NOT, PLEASE. LET'S HOPE THAT IT'S NOT BROKEN.
SIMON'S BUSTED HIS NOSE. HE GOT THE CAMERA IN THE FACE.
WHAT'S LEFT OF THE HOUSING -- THAT'S THE FRONT.
THAT'S QUARTER-INCH PLATE GLASS, THAT.
THAT'S LIKE A SHOP WINDOW.
AND THAT WENT INTO BEAR'S LEG.
IT COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE.
I JUST THANK GOD THEY'RE BOTH ALIVE.
THE PRIORITY IS TO GET OFF THIS MOUNTAIN
AND DOWN TO THE E.R.
I NEED TO ASSESS THIS INJURY PROPERLY.
THE TEAM SCRAMBLE A RESCUE CHOPPER.
AND, AS WE CLIMB TOWARDS THE LANDING ZONE,
THE HELI ARRIVES ON SITE.
MAN: Standing here at the hunter's drop right now.
The wind is light.
COPY THAT. LIGHT AND OUT OF THE EAST.
ONCE WE GET THERE,
THE TEAM START TO MOVE ME TOWARDS THE HELICOPTER.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
HOLD THE DOOR.
BUT IT'S ALSO CLEAR
THAT THE CAMERAMAN SIMON'S NOSE IS BROKEN.
OKAY, THIS IS...
THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN MYSELF,
AND THAT IS AN INTERESTING LOOK.
DESPITE HIS INJURIES, HE CONTINUES FILMING.
AND SOON WE'RE OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS
AND HEADING DOWN TOWARDS THE HOSPITAL.
THE X-RAYS SHOW NO BREAK,
BUT MY LEG HAS A SEVERE HEMATOMA,
SWOLLEN TO TWICE ITS NORMAL SIZE.
SIMON'S NOSE IS BROKEN,
BUT BOTH OF US ARE JUST GLAD TO BE ALIVE.
GOING OVER THAT BROW OVER THE RED LINE,
AND SEEING HIM DISAPPEAR INTO THE SNOW CLOUD --
JUST THE WORST, WORST FEELING.
THEN IT JUST SORT OF PLAYED OUT IN SLOW MOTION.
AND I TRIED TO STEER, BUT HAD NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS,
SO I THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY,
"DON'T HIT HIM, DON'T HIT HIM, DON'T HIT HIM."
AND AS SOON AS I WAS HAVING THAT THOUGHT, BANG, I HIT HIM.
IT FELT LIKE HITTING A WALL.
[ THUD ] Grylls: UGH!
I THOUGHT I'D KILLED HIM.
I REMEMBER THE IMPACT, AND I REMEMBER SCREAMING,
AND I REMEMBER MY FIRST EMOTION WAS,
IF THAT HAD HIT MY HEAD, I'D BE DEAD.
Reay: I WAS JUST LOOKING AT HIM,
HE WAS JUST IN TEARS HOLDING HIS LEG.
AND I JUST -- IT'S THE WORST, WORST FEELING I'VE EVER HAD.
Grylls: IT WASN'T THE MOUNTAINS THAT GOT US.
IT WASN'T THE CREVASSES OR SNAKES.
JUST THIS RARE, RARE OCCASION, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE CAMERA.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE JOB.
THAT'S PART OF FIGHTING TO GET THAT CAMERA CLOSE TO THE ACTION.
YOU KNOW, SIMON LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEEN IN A BOXING MATCH.
BUT THE SUN'S SHINING, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALIVE.
OUR EXPEDITION IS OVER.
IT'S TIME TO LEAVE THIS FROZEN LAND AND HEAD FOR HOME.
THE LAST TWO DAYS
HAVE PUSHED ME TO THE LIMIT AND BEYOND.
LET'S GET INTO THIS.
I ALREADY HAD A HUGE RESPECT FOR THE FORCES OF NATURE.
BUT THAT RESPECT HAS JUST GROWN DRAMATICALLY.
OKAY, I'M WET, COLD, AND I'VE GOT TO ACT FAST.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT EVEN WHEN YOU CONTROL THE ELEMENTS,
YOU NEVER HAVE TRUE CONTROL OVER THE ENVIRONMENT.
[ THUD ]
AND THE WORST CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.
TO SHARE MY FAVORITE MOMENT FROM THE SHOW, VISIT...