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Outdoor Updates: Hiker Survives 6-hour Cardiac Arrest

A British hiker survives 6-hour cardiac arrest

In what doctors are describing as an ‘exceptional’ case, a British woman hiking in Spain’s Pyrenees mountains survived a six-hour cardiac arrest caused by severe hypothermia. Audrey Mash, 34, was hiking with her husband in the Catalan Pyrenees when the weather turned. As temperatures dropped, Mash began having trouble speaking and moving and eventually became unconscious. Her husband told TV3 that he thought she was dead. “I couldn’t feel a breath, I couldn’t feel a heartbeat,” he said.

It took rescuers two hours to reach the couple. When they arrived, Mash’s body temperature had dropped to 64 degrees. Upon arriving at the hospital she had no vital signs. Doctor’s say Mash’s six-hour cardiac arrest was the longest ever documented in Spain and that the cold temperatures that caused her condition also played a role in her survival. Mast was released from the hospital 12 days after her ordeal began and had no neurological damage. 

Outdoor equipment manufacturer LightHeart Gear wins Business North Carolina’s 2019 Small Business of the Year award

Fletcher, North Carolina based LightHeart Gear has taken home Business North Carolina’s top award for small businesses. The company, which manufacturers outdoor gear, began after Judy Gross, 62, saw a large, homemade lightweight tent while attempting to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. “It was a palace,” Gross told Business North Carolina. “It didn’t weigh anything and it packed up very small. The tent I was carrying around was a big-box brand that weighed 4.5 pounds and was much smaller than his. And I though, ‘Well, I’m going to go home and make a tent.” 

Gross began selling tents in 2012. Today, the company offers four different types of tents, rain gear, lightweight sleeping bags, trekking poles and a line of women’s clothing. They were awarded with the 2019 Small Business of the Year award because of their innovative product offerings, above-and-beyond customer service and fast growth in recent years, Business North Carolina says. 

Until Christmas, Patagonia will match every dollar you give through their giving campaign

Want to make your dollar stretch while giving to a good cause this holiday season? Check out Patagonia’s giving campaign, which will match every dollar you give to any Patagonia Action Works group. Send a digital eCard, print a card at home or pick up a physical card in any Patagonia store and Patagonia will match your donation through Christmas. It’s not necessary to purchase any products in order to participate in the campaign. 

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