Ballengee Rescued from Trail Running Accident

Rob Howard / 21.12.2006

Danelle Ballengee, one of the USA’s top racers, who has competed with Nike ACG and Team Spyder in the past, has survived a fall and two nights lying injured in freezing temperatures in the mountains at Moab, near her home.

The 35-year-old athlete set off on a training run on her own, wearing lightweight clothing and accompanied by her dog, Taz. She slipped on ice and tumbled from the path, falling over rocky ledges and breaking her pelvis in the fall.

Still conscious she managed to crawl some distance from the fall site looking for help, but was unable to find anyone, and had to spend two nights out in sub-zero conditions. It was a life threatening situation and her will to live and the companionship of her dog helped keep her going. She did exercises from a sitting position to keep warm and Taz slept close to her on the first night, but not on the second. The following morning he ran off, but had not abandoned Danelle.

Rescue crews, initially alerted to her absence by a neighbour, found her vehicle and then came across Taz who led them to Danelle. She was airlifted to hospital and has been operated on to repair her broken pelvis. She was also suffering from frostbite, but will not lose any fingers or toes and faces a long period of recovery over the coming months.