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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22502580/NEW YORK - Doctors say they have never seen anything like it: A window washer who fell 47 stories from the roof of a Manhattan skyscraper is now awake, talking to his family and expected to walk again. Alcides Moreno, 37, plummeted almost 500 feet in a Dec. 7 scaffolding collapse that killed his brother.
Somehow, Moreno lived, and doctors at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center announced Thursday that his recovery has been astonishing. He is scheduled to undergo his 10th surgery Friday.
He has movement in all his limbs. He is breathing on his own. And on Christmas Day, he opened his mouth and spoke for the first time since the accident. [continued]
No, it does not. Improbable? Yes? Amazingly improbable? Sure. But a "miracle"? I don't think so. It's not even unprecedented. There are records of people surviving falls from airplanes after their parachutes failed to open.
Moreno certainly did have some devastating injuries, as the article describes:
Survival is rare for falls greater than 10 stories. In urban environments, falls of three stories or more are associated with high mortality, particularly in adults. However, the height of the fall is not the sole risk factor for mortality. Moreno himself suffered multiple fractures, internal injuries, and massive bleeding. Indeed, the fact that his main fractures were lower extremities fractures suggests that he landed feet first, which is one factor that can increase the chance of surviving a high fall. That Moreno didn't suffer a major head injury also suggests this possibility. Another factor mentioned in the article is that he may have been holding on to the scaffolding as he fell. If the scaffolding was still attached to the rest of the structure, this could well have slowed his fall or even broken it, a possibility suggested by reports that paramedics found him lying on top of the remains of the collapsed scaffolding while his brother's body was apparently found lying partially underneath the wreckage. Moreover, in the same report it was stated that Moreno might have followed training that window washers are taught to maximize the possibility of survival if their scaffolding ever gives way:
Also, let's not forget the skillful intervention of the paramedics and trauma team, as well as the excellent care that they provided.
The man most likely survived due to a combination of factors, including his body position during the fall, the type of surface he landed on, and his overall physical health.
The cause of the fall could vary, but some possible reasons could include an accident, a suicide attempt, or a faulty safety mechanism on the building.
There have been a few documented cases of people surviving falls from extreme heights, but they are very rare and often involve unique circumstances.
The man likely sustained significant injuries from the fall, such as broken bones, internal bleeding, and trauma to his organs. However, the extent of his injuries and his chances of recovery would depend on a variety of factors.
This event could be used as a case study to better understand the human body's ability to survive extreme falls and the factors that contribute to survival. It could also inform building safety measures and emergency response protocols.