Rodriguez

Click to hear the radio conversation between the South Col and Base Camp

From the Radio Call:

Dr. Rovira

Dr. Rovira (Canadian doctor in Base Camp):
Todd, do you want to go over the personal resources you have up there? Jamie says you have four Sherpas, one had eye-problems but two...
Burleson (Alpine Ascents expedition leader on South Col):

Burleson

[garbled, then talking about Rodriguez:] he just started to be able to move his fingers about an hour or two ago. We need to get him some pain-killers up here -- I think he's going to need to use his hands to get down a little bit... we'll put some gloves on him, and he kind of needs to use his hands to get down... I can hardly believe it... He looks amazingly strong. I think we'll pump him full of fluids and try to move him. What do you think?

Rodriguez meets Dr. Rovira in Base Camp after the successful evacuation.

Dr. Rovira: ya, roger that, Todd. That's exactly what we were thinking and glad to get your confirmation. The dilemma was whether to try and intentionally thaw him there or not... I agree, pump him with fluids, maybe let him rest an hour on four liters. I'd like him to travel with O [oxygen] at the highest level he can tolerate. Over.

Burleson: ya, I know, we'll put him on full all the way down. If he starts to thaw out, what should we do about medication?

Dr. Rovira: I asked Jamie to send him with Tylenol with Codeine, you know, it's pretty impotent. We've got injectable Morphine at II if he's in severe pain, but I don't want him stumbling over his feet, you know what I mean?

Burleson: Right. I've got [thoridol?]. It doesn't seem to do much for pain, I often find, but then again, I don't need it.

Dr. Rovira: ya, roger that. That's fine with me... that's the equivalent of a couple Tylenol with Codeine and you can add them up -- it may help a little bit. How's he doing pain-wise right now, Todd? Over.

The Geneva Spur, 25,700' [Click for bigger image]

Burleson: well, he seems to be just fine. [garbled] balance, breathing oxygen well, I mean, he looks good. Coherent. ...We'll pump him full of fluid. I'm not even sure we want to keep him here an hour.

Dr. Rovira: well, you and Hugo evaluate that. If he's not in pain now, don't put him on anything but just make sure he has it for the way down. Over

Burleson: roger. One of the good things we've found is that once we can get him down the Geneva Spur, that it's pretty much down... there's a little bit of a traverse... Once we've gotten him over the Geneva Spur, it's ok.

Radio conversation between Hugo Rodriguez and Yuri Contreras, the Mexican doctor on Henry Todd's team (the Spanish is followed by an English translation by Freddy Blume):
Click to hear the radio call between Rodriguez and Contreras
Contreras: Hugo, I am on my way up to you. Don't worry. I have special frostbite kit and pain medicine. I'm on my way.

Rodriguez

Rodriguez: where are you?

Contreras: I'm at the bottom of the Lhotse Face. I am on my way up to Camp III. How do you feel? Over.

Rodriguez: don't worry about me.