U. doctor recounts dangerous crash in canyon, thanks rescuers


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BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON — Keith Duffy was calm as he recalled the trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon where, almost a month ago, he feared for his life.

The doctor and assistant professor of dermatology was riding his mountain bike down the canyon's Mill D Trail on Sept. 26 with his wife when he hit a rock and went flying over the bike's handlebars. The handles on the bike impaled him, stabbing into his leg and hitting several crucial arteries.

"As soon as the injury happened, I knew it was not a good injury to have," he explained Friday, addressing his own injury with the cool practice of a professional. "I knew it was right near the femoral artery, and potentially you can bleed out pretty quickly with a larger artery like that."

Duffy's wife took off to find help while he tried to staunch the bleeding, grateful for his medical training.

"I knew that if this was a major bleed that I needed to get out of there immediately," he said. "There's no doubt that knowing the anatomy was very helpful that day."

But he knew that without help, his situation would soon be grave. Sitting in his office at the University of Utah hospital, he shared his appreciation for the first responders who came to his aid and other cyclists passing on the trail, complete strangers, who gave him water, jackets and comfort.

"I was helpless on the ground, I literally couldn't move because I was holding pressure to make sure the artery wasn't going to bleed anymore," he said. "Those people were truly lifesavers."


As soon as the injury happened, I knew it was not a good injury to have. I knew it was right near the femoral artery, and potentially you can bleed out pretty quickly with a larger artery like that.

–Dr. Keith Duffy


Unified police and search and rescue crews finally reached Duffy and rushed him from the canyon to University of Utah hospital, then a patient instead of a doctor. He is recovering from the emergency surgery that finally stopped the bleeding and saved his life.

Three weeks later, Duffy is back, easing back into work at the hospital where he specializes in skin cancer surgery and dermatology pathology.

"I'm not quite ready for prime time yet in terms of getting back to surgery," Duffy said.

Duffy knows sports accidents don't always happen in challenging or dangerous moments. Sometimes, like his crash, they happen when someone is finishing up his day, just two miles from the end of the trail. He advises anyone going adventuring outdoors to take some kind of first aid course.

"Just knowing basic things about anatomy and splinting and bad things that can happen to you out there, I think, are potentially life-saving tools that you can have," he said, pointing out that preparation can help strangers as well. "You can stumble upon anyone in my situation out there."

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