The rod passed through Cifaldi's body but missed his internal organs.
Despite the injury, the 32-year-old chose to descend the mountain on his own after deciding that helicopter transport would be too expensive. Together with two friends, he hiked about 16 kilometres and descended 1,500 metres in altitude in just over six hours before reaching a car.
He was then taken to hospital, where doctors operated to remove the rod. A few days later he was back at work.
"I think I would make the same decision 99 times out of 100. The rescue itself is free, but the helicopter flight is not. That influenced my decision to save myself," says Cifaldi.
