Soft shackle failure with a lot of learning in this video

https://youtu.be/NrIR_4IPIbk?feature=shared

 

Need a TLDR version. Not watching an hour of this dork yapping

 

Transcript
Follow along using the transcript.

 

Soft shackle broke. Kinetic rope snapped back and went through the windshield and hit the guy

soft shackles aren’t indestructible
Don’t go ham yanking on a kinetic rope
Don’t use a soft shackle through a recovery point that isn’t designed for them
Don’t use cheap soft shackles

 

CliffNotes:

Dude bought some cheap ass soft shackle off Amazon that catastrophicly failed, went through his windshield and fucked him up.

Morale of the story: Don't buy cheap recovery gear that will fuck you up when it fails.

 

In addition to what’s been mentioned, there are human factors issues.

He was in a rush, wanting to catch up with his crew.

They didn’t brief the recovery. Neither guy knew what to expect of the other.

Change any one element of the recovery and the accident might not happen.

 

Should have used a winch damper. Isn't that winch safety 101

 

^It wasn't a winch cable. It is not customary to put a winch damper on kinetic rope pulls.

 

Adding to that, use appropriately sized kinetic rope that'll stretch as intended. The pull had a harder impact on both vehicles because the 1" rope was too stiff, acting more like a tow strap.

 

I know enough to know that I know basically squat about kinetic pulls. But I know that quality product is necessary and watched some videos (wish I could remember where they were) that had charts about MPH of the pull and how little MPH may be necessary to accomplish the task. Kinetic is tricky as hell. I also learned from those that after the kinetic rope is used it needs to sit de-stretched for a period of time to recover or it becomes a simple tow rope.

 

TLDR: for those who can’t do a 1hr talking head.

Went off-roading, got stuck in snow. Buddy was attempting to recover me with kinetic energy line. Buddy’s soft shackle end failed, rope recoiled into windshield hitting me in the neck.

Blood was pouring out of neck, assumed cut artery, applied pressure with medical aid from friends. Friends identified gash in neck. Called EVAC, informed family. Got into Heli-Vac, informed bleeding stoped but still bleeding from under chin. Applied pressure.

Landed at hospital, was told by charge nurse that I had to wait in line. After I insisted to be pushed thru, the line doctor confirmed and pushed into trauma. Informed that no gash on neck existed, instead severe bleeding from under chin which self clogged after swelling.

 

talk about lucky

 

^^^ nailed it on the head.

A soft shackle through a recovery point that is sharp and doesn't have bevelled edges is a big one.

 

Dude is lucky. With the forces involved he might have been live steaming to his ancestors.