September 30, 2025
Whereas on a world climbing journey, Mylene Torres was hit and dragged by a boulder that had damaged unfastened from the mountain. Luckily, her inReach® satellite tv for pc communication gadget1 survived the affect, and she or he was in a position to make use of it to get assist. She shared the story with Garmin.
I stay in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and this 12 months, as a birthday present to myself, I made a decision to spend a month within the Dominican Republic doing what I like most — climbing, which I do each weekend within the Rocky Mountains and in several nations.
Whereas there, I suffered a horrible accident climbing Loma Atravesada, descending towards The Valley Seashore. My information and I had been nearing the top of our hike once we heard the unmistakable sound of a boulder breaking unfastened from excessive above us. We couldn’t see it at first, however by the point we did, it was already barreling towards us at full velocity.
We every jumped to reverse sides of the path, however on the final second, the boulder modified course and hit me nearly head-on. It dragged me down the mountain for a number of meters earlier than rolling previous me. Miraculously, I remained aware and was in a position to scream for my information, who rushed to my facet. I used to be in excruciating ache and on the verge of passing out. He did all the things he might to maintain me awake — he poured alcohol on a material for me to scent and saved repeating, “Stick with me! Don’t go! God is with us!”
As soon as I used to be calm, I assessed my accidents and realized I couldn’t stroll. I requested him at hand me my Garmin inReach Mini 2 gadget. He didn’t know what it was, so I rapidly defined it’s a satellite tv for pc communicator and that I might name for assist even with out cell service.
After I pressed the SOS button, I used to be terrified. All I might suppose was, “Please work! Please work! Please work!” I had by no means wanted it earlier than for something past sending check-in messages to my children. This was actual, and I used to be placing all my belief in it.
To my aid, the Garmin ResponseSM crew responded instantly. They requested me if I used to be aware and in a position to talk, and I used to be. That second introduced a way of hope I can’t totally clarify. I used to be not alone — we had been not alone. I advised my information to go to the summit to seek out assist — native farmers, anybody with one thing they may use to hold me — so I might be prepared for extraction when the rescue crew arrived. He was hesitant to depart, however I reassured him. “The Garmin Response crew is aware of precisely the place I’m. I’m not alone.”
He returned with a number of native farmers. These heroes carried me up the mountain in a hammock, slicing via the dense terrain with machetes and, at instances, lifting me on their shoulders to maintain transferring ahead. By the point we reached the summit, the helicopter from the Dominican Republic Air Drive was arriving. They assessed me, immobilized me, and transported me to the Dr. Ramón de Lara Navy Educating Hospital in Santo Domingo.
Later, as we had been attempting to grasp how I survived the affect, we realized one thing unimaginable. Your complete left facet of my physique took the hit — the place all of my fractures and accidents are. That’s additionally the place I had my inReach gadget clipped. Everybody, together with me, thought the gadget can be smashed. However one way or the other, it was the one factor on me that didn’t break. It nonetheless labored completely, and it grew to become my voice after I wanted assist most.
I additionally later discovered that my emergency contacts had been notified of the state of affairs by the Garmin Response crew. I didn’t even understand that may occur — however understanding now, I can’t let you know how a lot peace that brings me. In that second of chaos and ache, Garmin inReach was the lifeline not just for me however for my family members as nicely.
I sustained fractures in my pelvis and backbone (T9 and T10), a number of lacerations, a pulmonary embolism and deep bruising. Fortunately, there was no bone displacement, so surgical procedure wasn’t mandatory — simply full immobilization. I spent a number of days within the ICU, then in a restoration room whereas my insurance coverage organized my switch again to Canada. I’m now persevering with restoration, surrounded by care, love and a profound sense of gratitude.
Thanks, Garmin, for creating expertise that may actually saves lives. I by no means imagined I must use the SOS function, however after I did, it labored flawlessly — and I genuinely consider it made the distinction between life and dying. I’ll by no means go on one other journey with out my inReach.
1Energetic satellite tv for pc subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit using satellite tv for pc communication units. It’s the duty of the consumer to know and observe all relevant legal guidelines within the jurisdictions the place the gadget is meant for use.