On the fourth day of the race, roughly four kilometers outside of PC 14, the 39-year-old Hong Kong engineer slipped on the muddy jungle floor, falling to the ground in a crumpled heap.

Truebridge, a first-time Eco-Challenger and native New Zealander, dislocated his left shoulder in the fall.

"My hand got caught in my trekking pole strap and when I fell it twisted my arm," Truebridge explained.

Truebridge, engaged to teammate Barbara Stockman, said his first thoughts after the accident were of his teammates continuing on into the jungle without him. "The pain in my shoulder was horrendous," he said. "But the thought of not being in the race hurt more."

When an emergency medical team arrived at the scene, they successfully pulled his arm back into its socket by wedging Truebridge against his backpack.

Despite the agony, Truebridge, who is built like a rugby player and has a friendly, easy-going demeanor, pleaded with the doctors to let him continue. But they eventually convinced him to get the shoulder checked out at the medical center, explaining that continuing on could result in permanent damage.

While Truebridge rested under medical supervision, at his urging, his three teammates, including his fiancee, continued on through the jungle trek, completing the brutal 57-kilometer journey as a trio.

Eventually, after race doctors cleared him for competition, Truebridge, an experienced long-distance runner, decided to go on. "There was no question," he said. "It was either continue on or sit in a hotel for seven days. And I've never been one to sit in hotels."

"I'm just really, really happy to be back in the race," he said.

Today at PC 18, the grateful competitor was reunited with his teammates, including fiancee Stockman, a 34-year-old lawyer. As they readied their gear for the Sampan canoeing leg, Truebridge explained that while motion in his left arm was still limited, he could maneuver a paddle.

Team Van Eck Global/HongKong was officially disqualified, but the members are not bitter. "It's the rules," said teammate Dave Hulme, a portfolio manager. "We broke open our radio, lit our smoke flares and one of our teammates didn't do part of the course."

"We'll just be happy to cross the finish line as a foursome, whether we're ranked or unranked," continued Hulme, busy sorting through the team's food box.

The team will trek to PC 20, the start of the Sampan canoe leg tonight and climb into their wooden boat at dawn.