Real Survival Stories – "Bolt From the Blue: Suspended Over a Chasm"
Podcast: Real Survival Stories
Host: John Hopkins
Episode Air Date: November 20, 2025
Featured Survivor: Rod Liberal
Theme: The extraordinary survival and rescue of climber Rod Liberal after a lightning strike atop Grand Teton, and the tragic loss of a teammate.
Episode Overview
This gripping episode recounts the true story of Rod Liberal, an experienced climber who, during an ascent of Wyoming's Grand Teton in July 2003, was struck by lightning and left paralyzed, dangling over a sheer cliff. Amidst devastating pain, isolation, and shock, Rod’s fight for survival unfolds—culminating in a harrowing multi-hour rescue by a dedicated mountain team, and profound aftermath for everyone involved.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene: Climbers on Grand Teton
- [00:31–01:49]
The episode opens on July 26, 2003, as a storm passes over Grand Teton, Wyoming. The group of thirteen climbers is at high altitude after a long, physically taxing approach. - Rod's Initial Condition
“I just remember my head being really close to my foot for some reason and I'm folded in half. My left arm is dangling. I have no feeling in it. I have no feeling in my legs and my back hurts. I'm in excruciating pain.”
— Rod Liberal [01:49]
2. Backstory: Rod’s Path to the Mountains
- [09:49–14:12]
The episode explores Rod's climbing background, his Brazilian roots, his first encounters with US wilderness, and the value of outdoor adventure as a foundation of identity.
“Just trying to get away from civilization as often as we could. And I think that's really what attracted me was just to be out in nature.”
— Rod [09:49]
3. Climb Progresses: Wall Street and Friction Pitch
- [15:19–21:56]
- The group's journey grows increasingly technical and treacherous.
- "Wall Street": a dramatic, exposed ledge with a technical move around a boulder—commitment required; no turning back afterward.
- Emotional and physical fatigue hit, especially for Erica, one of Rod’s climbing team.
- Ascent continues despite mounting risks: “The weather looked great, so we did.”
— Rod [17:58]
4. Storm Strikes and Disaster Unfolds
- [21:34–23:59]
As the trio tackles the “friction pitch”—the final, steep approach to the summit—weather rapidly deteriorates, and an ominous electrical hum permeates the air.- “The friction pitch was wet, so you can imagine it was extremely slippery and difficult.”
— Rod [21:56] - In an instant, lightning strikes; Rod is thrown from the wall, losing consciousness.
- “The friction pitch was wet, so you can imagine it was extremely slippery and difficult.”
5. Immediate Aftermath: Alone and Broken
- [25:02–31:01]
- Rod comes to, contorted and paralyzed, body suspended only by his rope.
- Realizes his predicament and experiences waves of pain and panic.
“I remember unclipping my bag and just deciding like, do I let this thing fall? It's got my water in it, my food and my radio. But I think the pain was so overwhelming I did...”
— Rod [02:51, 30:21] - Hears a mayday on the radio: “Mayday, we've been struck by lightning. We need help.”
— Climbing group radio [28:04] - News of at least one fatality in the group sinks in.
6. Isolation, Despair, and the Wait for Rescue
- [31:01–34:53]
- Rod’s pleas for help are unanswered; pain and hypothermia intensify.
- He hangs for hours, oscillating between consciousness and near-death resignation.
- A helicopter arrives but leaves—Rod is misidentified as dead, prolonging his ordeal.
“When you realize there's no help coming ... you come to terms with the fact that you are going to die ... and there's a peace that comes with it, I think.”
— Rod [34:01] - Thoughts of his newborn son, Kai, offer purpose and hope:
“There was a moment of, I'm just gonna hang on to these memories of my kid that's a little peaceful. Almost.”
— Rod [34:53] - Hearing Clinton’s voice ("Hey, Rod, hang in there. We're coming out to get you.") reignites his will to survive. [35:36]
7. Rescue Operation: The Folded Man
- [37:19–41:25]
- Park rangers return before nightfall with a new plan, led by Ranger Craig Holm.
- Rod is found in a horrifying position, nicknamed by rescuers as “the Folded Man.”
“When they first spotted me, they nicknamed me the Folded man because apparently I was folded in half. It was gnarly looking.”
— Rod [37:39] - Delicate extrication gets Rod onto a gurney and aerially evacuated with only 20 minutes to spare before darkness would have made rescue impossible.
“There were 20 minutes left by the time they pulled me off from the cutoff. So 20 minutes more, I would have had to spend the night. Most likely I wouldn't be here talking to you right now.”
— Rod [41:25]
8. Medical Battle and Emotional Aftermath
- [42:21–46:07]
- Rod awakens in a hospital after a three-week coma, suffering internal injuries, burns, and pneumonia.
- Devastating realization: Erica, his teammate, was killed instantly by the same lightning bolt.
- The burden of survivor’s guilt lingers:
“The main thing I could think about was me telling her to keep going on the climb, you know, when she wanted to turn around.”
— Rod [44:25] - Rod reunites with Clinton, Erica’s husband, who forgives him, but the pain endures.
9. Recovery and Transformation
- [45:07–47:19]
- Against all odds, Rod walks out of the hospital three months later and resumes active life, using adventure to rebuild both physically and mentally.
- Reflection:
“It's with you all the time you're always thinking about death...in a way it can kind of fuel you to realize...today could be my last day. What are we doing this weekend?...Where's the next adventure?”
— Rod [46:15] - The group returns to the mountain, and Rod later visits the memorial marking Erica’s death; gratitude for the rescuers runs deep.
10. Gratitude and Connection
- [47:19–48:43]
- Rod attends a special reunion and meets his rescuers, including the pilot and Ranger Craig Holm.
- Emotional closure:
“He picked up Kai in his arms, you know, and getting to, to meet everybody and getting to thank them personally and getting to show them, you know, like, this is what you guys did. This is my family, this is my kid. So it was really special being, being there.”
— Rod [47:19]
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- “I just remember my head being really close to my foot for some reason and I'm folded in half. My left arm is dangling. I have no feeling in it.”
— Rod Liberal [01:49] - “Mayday, we've been struck by lightning. We need help.”
— Anonymous group member (on radio) [28:04] - “When you realize there's no help coming, ... you come to terms with the fact you are going to die.”
— Rod Liberal [34:01] - “There was a moment of, I'm just gonna hang on to these memories of my kid that's a little peaceful. Almost.”
— Rod Liberal [34:53] - “When they first spotted me, they nicknamed me the Folded man ... it was gnarly looking.”
— Rod Liberal [37:39] - “There were 20 minutes left by the time they pulled me off ... Most likely I wouldn't be here talking to you right now.”
— Rod Liberal [41:25] - “I'm waking up three weeks later. I still don't know exactly what happened. I learned Erica had passed away.”
— Rod Liberal [43:48] - “The main thing I could think about was me telling her to keep going on the climb, you know, when she wanted to turn around.”
— Rod Liberal [44:25] - “It's with you all the time ... today could be my last day. Where's the next adventure?”
— Rod Liberal [46:15] - “Getting to thank them personally and getting to show them ... this is my family, this is my kid ... so it was really special being, being there.”
— Rod Liberal [47:19]
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Initial Accident & Injury: [00:31–03:38]
- Rod’s Background: [09:49–13:47]
- Wall Street Sequence: [15:19–19:48]
- Lightning Strike & Aftermath: [23:59–28:57]
- Hanging in Limbo: [29:13–34:53]
- Mountaintop Rescue: [37:19–41:25]
- Rehabilitation & Reunion: [42:21–47:19]
Episode Tone and Style
The episode maintains Noiser’s signature immersive, tense narrative style, blending first-person testimony from Rod Liberal with atmospheric narration. There’s a balance of haunting detail and grounding humanity—the ordeal is not just about physical survival, but also the enduring emotional aftermath for survivor and rescuer alike.
Summary for Listeners
If you haven’t heard the episode, this is a viscerally told, minute-by-minute recounting of a freak wilderness accident whose stakes escalate rapidly from technical climbing challenge to life-or-death drama. You’ll come away with respect for both the power of nature and the tenacity of those, like Rod and the rescue team, who dare to face it head on.
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