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Aron Ralston: Inspiration for Oscar-nominated film 127 Hours starring James Franco arrested over domestic violence claims

38-year-old amputated his right forearm with a pen knife to free himself from a boulder after becoming trapped during a hike

Monday 09 December 2013 11:09 GMT
Aron Ralston at the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood in 2011
Aron Ralston at the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood in 2011

A thrill-seeker, whose upsetting story became a best-selling book and later a Hollywood film starring James Franco after he sawed off his own arm with a pen knife because he became trapped in a Utah canyon, is due in court after being arrested over domestic violence claims.

Aron Ralston is being held in Denver County jail where he faces one charge of assault and one charge of “wrongs to minors” after he was arrested on Saturday night, according to jail documents.

A spokeswoman with the Denver Police Department told Reuters she could not provide details of the incident. It was not immediately clear if Ralston had hired a lawyer.

The 38-year-old made headlines in 2003 when the mountain climber survived an eventful hike after a boulder crushed his arm and trapped him in a remote canyon in Utah. Ralston chose to amputate his right forearm with a pen knife to free himself from the boulder, after running out of water and being forced to start drinking his own urine. Ralston walked five miles in the sun before being rescued after the ‘operation.’

Ralston wrote the bestseller Between a Rock and a Hard Place about his ordeal. The harrowing tale was turned into a film, 127 Hours, by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Ralston is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.

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