I can only remember one time where someone cut a tire so bad it couldn't be made to work, and he hitchhiked a ride to a bike store.
When I toured my rear tire wore through to the cords and got all mis-shaped and bumpy. I learned to only expect 1000 miles from the rear tire.

I toured when a guy got giardia and he hitchhiked to the next town (90 miles) and we met him there and boxed his bike and put him on a bus for two days.

I have been on a ride when a young guy started crying, and another where a guy's brain went blank and he couldn't remember his phone number
and didn't know where he was.

Never had a cell phone and whenever I borrow one I have to ask how to use it.