US worker survives 47-storey fall

A New York window cleaner who survived a 47-storey fall from a skyscraper last month is making a gradual recovery - in what doctors say is a "miracle".

Alcides Moreno, 37, tumbled some 500ft (150m) to the ground in a scaffolding accident that killed his brother.

Mr Moreno suffered severe brain, spine and abdomen injuries and both his legs, his right arm and ribs were broken.

But after undergoing a series of surgeries he is now awake, able to talk and is expected to walk again.

"If you are a believer in miracles, this would be one," Dr Philip Barie, a surgeon at New York's Presbyterian Hospital where Mr Moreno is being treated, was quoted as saying by the New York Times newspaper.

"Above 10 floors, most of the time we never see the patients because they usually go to the morgue... this is right up there with those anecdotes of people falling out of airplanes and surviving," Dr Barie said.

mr. moreno, you are one lucky bugger! it's not often you get to survive the laws of physics when probability says that you won't.

luck, chance, probablity, statistics. nutty cannot deny that all these are factors in life, but miracles? sorry. the statistics tell a different story.

i don't believe in miracles, dr. barbie, which is why "Above 10 floors, most of the time we never see the patients because they usually go to the morgue..." the difference is that all those people that do die don't get to have their stories heard. now, a miracle would be if instead of dying most of the time, these people survived, like mr. moreno.

a case of the exception proving the rule.

strange that when something amazingly lucky happens it's suddenly a miracle, and we conveniently overlook the normality of death in such situations.

i wonder how many people died in new york city yesterday in accidents. i'm sure mr. moreno doesn't see his own brother's death as a miracle...

miracle: An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God:

i say, look up occam's razor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_Razor

any evangelical iowan christians that absolutely, truly believe in god and miracles are welcome to throw themselves off a 47 storey building to put their faith to the ultimate test. i somehow doubt that they will survive. it won't be because of god's plan, but simple laws of physics. the same ones that govern us all when we walk, run, drive, fly in airplanes, or play golf (good or bad).

actually, a practical demonstration would be great, because i'm sick of hearing how great god is from all you evangelicals and seeing what a crap job he's done with his little experiment. so go ahead. you have nothing to fear anyway. if you survive your 500ft fall it will be a miracle, and if you don't, you'll be in heaven and there'll be a few less extremist voters around come election day. as i see it, it's a win-win for everbody.

as for mr. moreno, wow! all the best to him. he had to be thinking "i'm dead, i'm dead" all the way down.

i'm sure he's in for a painful recovery.