- Title: Touching The Void
- Date: 4th November 2004
- Description:Kevin MacDonald's acclaimed drama documentary,which re-creates the events of the best-selling climbing book,tells the story of two young mountaineers,Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. In 1985,on the descent from a Peruvian peak,Simpson fell,breaking his leg. Yates lowered him down the mountain 300 feet at a time - until he lowered Simpson over a precipice. Yates,being pulled down by Simpson's weight,had to cut the rope... Simpson crashed into a crevasse and his astonishing story of survival has become the stuff of legend. The film makes very effective use of simple interviews with the two men mixed with stunning re-construction of their individual physical and emotional plights. Joe lost 1/3 of his bodyweight during his ordeal. Two years and six operations later Joe climbed again and continues to climb today. Simon returned to England to face intense criticism from many in the climbing community for cutting the rope on his partner but Joe has always defended him. No one has ever successfully repeated Joe and Simons climb to the summit of Suila Grande.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Darlow Smithson Productions Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:04/11/2004
- Rights:Worldwide
- Decade: 2000s