sniperacer-- you are absolutely right. what a horrible choice this poor man made, and now so many will suffer because of it. aren't there better ways to indulge one's sense of adventure and curiosity that to do something so incredibly dangerous and careless..?? And with a pregnant wife and a baby... my god. and to answer your question, my understanding is they couldn't pull him out because he was at an angle and the bottom tip of his rib cage made it so he could squeeze through (his chest but not pelvis), but would catch on the rock when he was trying to pull back. think of the shape of the rib cage and it makes sense. what a horrible and senseless predicament to willingly put yourself in,, and a waste of a good human life. and for what.....???
it seems that the lure of the thrill trumps even the greatest intelligence in otherwise decent, upstanding, responsible individuals. think of all the mountain climbers who die from oxygen loss/freezing/avalanches because they are so addicted to it and cannot stop...... it just blows the mind. why....??? then it takes so many others risking their lives to rescue them... i just can't fathom it.