Author(s): William Pike

New Zealand History & Non-Fiction

William Pike, a 22-year-old school teacher from Auckland, came to the attention of the nation on 25 September 2007 when, while tramping on Mt Ruapehu, he was critically injured during a volcanic eruption. William was trapped inside the hut, surrounded by mud and rocks and in freezing temperatures, while his friend went for help. When the rescue team arrived he was suffering from such severe hypothermia he was not expected to survive. Defying the odds, William spent two months in Waikato Hospital, at first fighting for his life, and then in slow, steady recovery. But, despite having had his lower right leg amputated, just barely keeping his left leg and facing yet more reconstructive surgery, William is philosophical about his life-altering injuries. His inspirational story begins with his trip to Nepal at the age of 12, which awakened his interest in outdoor pursuits of all kinds, and continues through his teens and early twenties as a mad-keen tramper, climber, surf-lifesaver and diver. First published August 2008.