Touching the Void - What Happened Next?

[@smoothmicra]

Touching the Void is one of the finest, if not THE finest factual survival film ever made. You get a real sense of the emotions and physical agony involved. Utterly compelling.

[@theresa42213]

Pickleman ~ Yes it was! l liked how the mountain showed all the fluting, and how utterly dangerous it appeared in the film. l dont climb, and wouldn't go near it, but l love the survival stories, and am AMAZED at what people go through.

[@ValCronin]

The thai cave rescue has this story beat but that's because it contained numerous miracles and complications and thousands of people coming together to create perhaps the most inspiring story mankind has ever known. This story is incredible as well and demonstrates the lengths the human mind and body can go to survive.

[@terrimobley6067]

Good book

[@sbardle]

Thanks, I always wondered what happened after the book / film ends. It's also interesting to learn Joe wrote the book to justify Simon.

[@dinospumoni5611]

What legends, both of them. Simon for his heroism in trying to save his friend with a shattered knee by risking his own life, and making the impossibly difficult decision to cut the rope, and Joe for being so understanding that his friend made the only choice he could, and for his resilience in managing to stay alive.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Both of them...there was three people involved.

[@czechraiser]

One of the greatest stories of all time, in my opinion. Nice epilogue, thanks.

[@OrthodoxChristian809]

Simon had no choice but to cut the rope. If he hadn’t, they’d both be dead anyway so the outcome was the best for both of them.

[@Naturalista91]

exactly!

[@jasoncarswell7458]

There's strong unspoken rules on this shit. #1 is you must never drag your teammates down with you; it's expected you'll cut yourself loose if necessary. In the documentary film, I knew what was coming but I assumed it would be Joe who cut his own line to save Simon. The fact that he has repeatedly said that he would have cut himself loose if he'd had a knife handy basically indemnifies Simon. Only in the eyes of John Q. Public can he be blamed for that.

[@exsappermadman25055]

Two dead climbers isn't right if one of them has a fucking choice. The first thing Joe said to Simon (after Simon stopped swearing!) was he would have done the same thing. Simon could have left him after Joe broke his leg but didn't. He attempted a self rescue and if both of them could have seen what he was lowering him into he wouldn't have needed to cut the rope, it was a total whiteout and both of them were completely fucked at that time.....Simon did well to get down safely on his own.....

[@cameronhirtle7316]

This is the simplest way to put it. It sucks he gets constant blame for a situation he was put in by his partner's mistake. Not his fault.

[@thecarpetman7687]

@@cameronhirtle7316 only stupid people blame him and the world has more stupid people than smart ones

[@TrooperLFC]

Simon saved Joe's life on three consecutive occasions up on that mountain. Well done Simon lad!

[@librarianlaura3697]

Oh my gosh, thanks so much for uploading this! The film leaves it rather ambiguous about whether Simon had done something wrong, now I know how Joe feels.

[@bigeyetuna6228]

The one dude smiles at the oddest times

[@estranged85]

Psychological defense mechanism

[@denzilite]

they like risking their lives to climb mountains in freezing conditions...they're fucking weird, he probably laughed at his own mothers funeral.

[@bigeyetuna6228]

This guys way weirder than you, probably!!!

[@adammahoney6537]

Dan M that one wasn't really a climber

[@honorata1935]

We all act differently with stress.

[@jim23mac]

Wow, this video includes some of the best advice you can give to any traveler. Don't get injured, if you get injured don't expect that anybody will care or have any sympathy. If you need treatment then you will need to pay up-front and reimburse yourself, by claiming off of your insurance. Don't expect the treatment to be anywhere near the standard you'll get in the West. I didn't even cover the drunk driving, the dangerous driving and the 'don't worry, God will protect us' driving. Happy holidays.

[@muskyelondragon]

I cannot believe that anyone would blame Simon.

[@kittycatworld470]

Musky Elon true

[@strawbrryfld1]

Totally agree. I see people at accident sights who can’t deal with the sight of blood. Anyone who says they wouldn’t have cut the rope is a liar.

[@troyvirgona8738]

I think a lot of people just can't comprehend the reality of the situation. They'd like to think that if it was them that they'd find another way, or that thier morals wouldn't let them abandon someone like that. I remember orally retelling this story to someone and they were appalled, I had to spend time explaining why it was the right, and quite frankly, only call he could make. It's such a hostile environment that being anything less than pragmatic could get you killed.

[@gyozop]

True. Actually a couple of years ago was an opposite story ending badly. One mounteneer slipped and fell and disappeared on Kanchenjunga. Hi partner went back up for him at the end of his strength, although it was clearly hopeless. So he died too. Sad to say, but a pointless death.

[@annashaw6538]

I read in one of Joe's books that the rope if like the trust between the climbers so it was like cutting the trust and bond. So people blaming him clearly didn't look at the situation and Joe not blaming him but thanking him

[@DebbieLeighDriver]

After watching touching the void 14 years ago, I never knew this part existed. I am even more blown away that Joes journey wasn't over and there are pictures !!

[@misternewoutlook5437]

Simon was literally caught between a rock and a hard place. Simon's decision was radical and with less risk for his side of matters, but it obviously bears out that it saved both of their lives.

[@ValCronin]

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR 6 HOURS. I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE POINT THE MOVIE ENDED. I thought it ended far too soon--Joe was in an extremely precarious situation at the point where the movie ended. All I could find online were the same 2 sentences about a 2 hour mule ride and then into a pickup truck. I read another tidbit about the hospital delaying two days because they did not accept his health insurance. This video was everything I was hoping to find to satisfy my curiosity of what happened from the point at which the movie left off when Joe reached the tent on the mountain. ✌️ Edit: I found a video on youtube called 'What happened next' that had interviews with all 3 men explaining exactly what happened after the ending point of the movie. It is precisely what I was hoping to find. ✌️

[@cpcnw]

Check out my 'Epilogue' at the end of this also, which was added to the book 10 years later!

[@radioactivelight]

I know exactly how you feel, I’ve been searching for this movie, or this TV show for years I always thought it was part of the series called I shouldn’t be alive, I probably searched their episode list 30 times over the years I just now decided to ask chatGPT what show I might have seen, and it instantly sent me here I’m afraid AI is a double edge sword, it might be our doom, but it sure does amazing things

[@Synathidy]

After watching the "Touching the Void" doc, I can't comprehend how anyone could condemn SImon's actions. It sounds like Joe actually used Simon's footsteps to navigate the glacier and avoid more crevasses as he crawled back. I imagine that if Simon hadn't cut that rope, he would have been catapulted down the mountain a very long distance and likely died, and then Joe wouldn't have had any footsteps to guide him in the early part of his crawl back on the glacier. Seems to me like not cutting the rope would have increased the chances of them BOTH dying. I wonder if the older climbers who accused Simon considered that?

[@thomaslombard8058]

I could never understand it either. Everyone always feels the compulsive need to act like a "pro" when passing their judgement on something they don't fully understand. The only opinion that mattered to me other than Simon's, was of course Joe. He has always defended Simon and rightfully so. There was no other way out of that situation except either freezing or falling to their deaths

[@cpcnw]

@@thomaslombard8058 Agree both. I see the decisions almost as binary. If nothing changes, everything stays the same or in Simon's word "Nothing continued to happen" - It's easier to think about outcomes though. If Simon had not cut the rope and they both get pulled into the crevasse still tied together would either of them have survived? I have a strong suspicion they may not. Give a percentage of either of them surviving that scenario compared to the one that happened. Most people would agree an outcome of one survival compared to none is the better outcome. Of course people come into the comments say things like "you never cut the rope on a mate" but there is no doubt that both Joe and Simon had to take extremely tough decisions beyond that which most people would ever encounter in their entire lives. Simon to cut the rope and equally Joe to descend further into the crevasse. How many of us would have chosen to 'fall asleep' in the crevasse as the lack of movement / decision led to the slow onset of hyperthermia? As always, it's far easier to say what you would do rather than actually doing it.

[@colinwoods9601]

@@cpcnw No question that if Simon hadn’t cut the rope he would’ve died. Based on the description of the ledge that Joe ended up on, that alone seems like a 1 in a million outcome and Simon was an additional 150ft above Joe. He was looking at a 300 or so foot drop down the mountain and nobody is living through that. Also, Simon held Joe’d entire body weight for 90 minutes before cutting the rope. That doesn’t sound like someone who came to that choice easily.

[@32446]

They both would be dead if the rope hadn’t been cut.

[@nessu1385]

there is also the fact that simon did not know (like we do) that joe was alive at that point. he did not know that joe was dangling there. From his percpective he might not be reacting because he already died or fell unconscious. So he waited as long as he could to give joe a chance to act and when he couldnt wait any longer he acted. They were both freezing to death while he waited.

[@kennethwilkinson2095]

This makes that story all the more better, theres a reason those 2 had that trust in each other to even attempt such a feat.

[@jro341]

What an amazing event! Thanks for bringing this to everyone that is interested. I am a bit surprised at the judgment that people have while not being in that situation personally. If a person commits to that climb, then they know the risks. My hat is off to all that can do this!

[@tonydeluca3610]

This is great to see. Thank you for uploading. I have just watched the movie and wasn’t sure if they remained friends after it. What an incredible story of human spirit.

[@TheShozaya]

Thanks for the upload!

[@cpcnw]

No probs. Thought someone would eventually find it / be wondering what the hell happened!

[@clouseaux]

Joe is straight up superhuman. Just kept on surviving insane tortures. Tortures of the damn they were.

[@shawnweston4741]

Simon had no choice.After listening to the whole story why would people still be judgemental and critical. He was frostbitten and losing strength quickly in middle of blizzard when he ended up cutting the rope and being pulled towards the edge of cliff.

[@thandaborof]

Thank You! Now I know what to write in my Touching the Void ‘What Happened Next’ Essay!

[@cpcnw]

"Influence" is just a nice word for plagiarism.

[@jacksnstaffs8293]

If Simon hadn't have cut the rope he would have been catapulted over the edge and down the crevasse and Joe wouldn't have landed on that ridge. They would have been pulled down by each others weight and the weight of them both would have broken through that fake bottom of the crevasse. So really by cutting the rope Simon saved both their lives.

[@cpcnw]

Obviously. But I think what makes the whole situation so intriguing is that they both carried on making decisions that would affect how events panned out. I think the ritual at base camp by Simon where he burnt Joe's close showed how he struggled massively to come to terms with Joe's death. Imagine if Joe really had died in the crevasse? Leaving Peru and coming back to a barrage of questions, being accused of murder perhaps? It's like multiple sliding doors. Joe dragging himself back to base camp must of been a massive relief for Simon. At least he wouldn't have to face a murder charge? But then face years of being the guy who cut the rope on his partner - even if it was inadvertently the decision that saved them both.

[@DancehallLyricsTV]

Simon is a real life Hero

[@norma3565]

Boney M kept joe going! It's amazing what your brain does

[@jetzeschaafsma1211]

The only reason I never watch Touching The Void again is the sound they added when Joe destroys his knee.

[@dandipietro8328]

I admire these guys so much. It is insane, everything that Joe went through, Simon too, with the horrors of cutting the rope on him.

[@apretarded7248]

“Oh god I’m gonna die to Boney M”

[@riffraff1015]

Joe Simpson is all round one hell of a man.What a Man.

[@DwainDwight]

incredible.

[@niagra898]

Brits are famously proper in even chaos geez

[@timd6671]

On behalf of myself and other Brits too, thank you very much. :-)

[@markwebster6018]

🇬🇧💪👍

[@dondamon4669]

This is the middle upper class 5%! For the rest think Ozzy ozbourne! I for one have never met anyone like these three in my whole life

[@mabelw7]

simon saved joe's life

[@cpcnw]

He attempted to. A heroic effort that didn't play out. After which Joe saved his own life. Or.. Joe's internal connection to a stream of external consciousness that drove him to keep going. He reports on this in the film. I guess you can look at this in many ways. God made him do it? But Joe=God at the time.

[@jhibbitt1]

simon was the one that found him and brought him to hospital. joe alone didn't save himself. he got himself out of the cavern and he got himself to simon, whom then did the rest. credit to both of them

[@LKeet6]

@@cpcnw no, simon saved his life. joe was utterly helpless the moment his leg broke. Without simon lowering him down half the mountain, he would've died of exposure first. Then, the cutting of the rope actually saved both their lives! No telling what would have happened if they'd both gone over attached to each other. Joe's crawl back is an absolutely incredible feat of endurance and will power, he definitely saved himself from that point, but the part where simon saved him came first.

[@mdb1010]

@@jhibbitt1 its so cringe how people like you keep going to push against the grain. You know what he meant and he was completely right. stop trying to one up people on the internet nerd..

[@jhibbitt2896]

@@mdb1010 ok, i'm at complete loss on how to respond to that because I literally don't know what you're talking about. I think a huge misunderstanding of what's being said may have occurred here

[@axsup7g140]

Lying in a hospital and getting no help must be quite worse than being captured in a crevasse!

[@mcs131313]

It’s an incredible story of bravery and survival. How we I do think the movie almost made it seem like bad luck, and missed an opportunity to emphasize the dangers of going out of your depth and unprepared. Although they’re now in climbing cannon, Joe and Simon were great amateur climbers (certainly better than I’ll ever be) they were not of the caliber that should be first timing routes like this. When I’ve heard real climbers talk about what they should have done, they start by laughing and saying “we’ll they shouldn’t have been there”, before going into the specific issues like tying ropes together for an absail. Also, those mistakes in the past - Simon definitely did the right thing cutting he rope. Even if he had known the situation, they were both gonna die if they stayed in that spot.

[@cpcnw]

" they were not of the caliber that should be first timing routes like this."

[@Joel_Mullins06]

To this day Richard is still smiling

[@Spinosaurus44]

Imagine an alternate universe for a moment where Simon didn’t cut the rope and kept holding on for as long as he could. What would have been the outcome in the end? He would have slipped because of the soft snow melting under him and would have fallen much farther than the distance Joe fell from. In the best case scenario, Joe would have ended up the same way he did and Simon would have died, and in the worst case both would be dead. So I think, even if Simon cutting the rope had an element of selfishness to it, the alternative wasn’t really a good option either. That’s besides the fact that it was actually the decision that saved both their lives

[@joelmspencer]

If you thought the film was great, which it is... wait until you finish the book. Epic read.

[@gimmarkmark7822]

Confusing whether they are previous real actors to experience like the movie? They have done since then in movies?

[@JosepFlanagan]

Simons actions alowed Joe the chance to live. In a sense he is party responsible for saving his life

[@strawbrryfld1]

Joe I recently broke my ankle. Fell in the kitchen and passed our because I decided I didn’t want to be on pain meds anymore. The meds they gave me to help detox made me extremely dizzy. So after I woke on the floor I realized something horrible had happened to my ankle. But I thought it was only a really bad bone bruise and walked on it for three days. Until I finally relented and sent someone for crutches. And then went to the doctor and had X-rays. I have systemic lupus which causes things like kidney stones. I had 2 aneurysms and a bunch of other crap that has happened. Well I thought that it was bad enough I broke my ankle THEN last week I came down with one of the worst bladder infections of my life (which I am still recovering from now) . Trying to get to the bathroom on a broken ankle sucks. I remember though after I woke from passing out thinking of your story. And knowing if you could make it down from a mountain out of a crevasse down a glacier and over a field of rocks by YOURSELF. I can do THIS. I have almost died twice so I understand what happened in your mind during filming. Thank you for making the movie !

[@kendallandrew]

Hope you’re feeling better. Best wishes.

[@tofighi1281]

am i the only one here that has this for engish homework

[@FlyingEagle-e7o]

The dangerous thrills of life!!

[@peterphil9686]

The whole world owes you Joseph. everyone’s done wrong by poor little me according to the winger chief...

[@Saewaed]

thx for the upload

[@dondamon4669]

Tge whole thing is suspicious? Why didn't Simon get help as soon as he got to the tent? And how comes no evhave lost limbs through frostbite? Not even fingers?

[@aboutface102]

Richard creeps me the fuck out.

[@deerheart87]

Joe is very handsome ❤

[@quoodle9883]

Stop smiling, Richard.

[@CheekyMonkey0007]

he irritates me with his smile!

[@liandaforstrand9120]

I love him. He looks very cuddly and probably has a sweet soul. I'd do him.

[@The-Clockwork-Eye]

Except he is gay...;)

[@jhibbitt1]

he's not. he has a wife

[@ggurks]

there's nothing wrong with smiling

[@SantiARG]

puede ser pa

[@SasukaRH]

who else here from the home school work??

[@kkichiouma2578]

Mizu I am

[@Tourqemada]

yes, uni assignment

[@theresa42213]

This ''cutting the rope'' thing is just silly! That is _one thing_ that happened on the whole journey, and cutting the rope could have just as well _saved_ Joe's life. Both of their lives. Simon would have fallen very soon, after and both could have ended up a tangled mess in the crevasse. lt happened exactly the way it was supposed to happen.

[@charlieray5098]

Richard, Jesus man could you stop describing this horrible situation with that huge disrespectful condescending grin? Damn man, I guess no experience means no empathy or sympathy 👎🏻🤦‍♂️

[@ofdragonsdreamed8218]

ikr

[@paulhamj6175]

You utter prick. Leave the guy alone. I highly doubt it is a condescending grin, seeing as how he is good friends and has the utmost respect for the other two. You are the condescending one, making such assumptions and passing judgement like the prick that you so evidently are.

[@joeylaptop9909]

Richard smiling thw whole time is so off putting. please stop smiling richard 😿

[@Scarface-hl4bl]

If only simon had get his shit together after that incident and hiked toward the valley straight after the day5 then joe shouting Simon near the camp would have never had happened.simon is joe devil but at the same time blessings in disguise as well.

[@GianfrancoHB]

Greetings Joe, Simon and Richard from an Ecuadorian guy in Munich. If you come here I invite you two beers per person or in England if you want. This experience is too much for one person too live. I’m convinced that many people prayed for you afterwards watching this story because somehow we are all connected and what happens to you, happens to me. God bless, Fran

[@greg8598]

This survival saga is beyond what we'd normally regard as plausible. I think few humans would be able to persevere as long as Joe did. 'Tough' doesn't do justice to his tenacity and spirit. Both men showed themselves to be of great character, during and after the ordeal.