TYROL, Austria, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A British climber survived after falling 500 feet from the rock face of the Grosser Geiger glacier in Tyrol, Austria, Britain's Daily Mirror reported.
Stephen Hone, 35, who works for the newspaper, said he was near the top of the glacier when the rock face suddenly gave way. The incident occurred during the weekend.
Hone was being treated at a local hospital for a broken arm, fractured ribs and a broken pelvis.
"I am lucky to be alive. It was as if the whole face crumbled and I went with it," he said. "There was nothing I could do. I couldn't see a thing and thought that was it. Luckily the mountain jutted out a bit to break my fall."
A German friend, who was climbing with Hone, also fell but suffered only cuts and bruises. The two spent the night on the mountain huddling with each other for warmth while awaiting rescuers.
