The Grand Canyon, a majestic natural wonder, attracts millions of visitors each year, offering awe-inspiring views and unforgettable memories. Many families take their yearly road trips to the Grand Canyon, and many others still have yet to cross that trip off their bucket lists.
For one family, the dream of a relaxing vacation turned into a nightmare when their 13-year-old son, Wyatt Kaufman, suffered a devasting fall from a cliff at Bright Angel Point.
Inside Edition shared Wyatt’s story and got to speak to his father Brain Kaufman to get the exact story of how this happened. Brian stated, “Other people came up, wanted to take pictures, he went to get out of the way, and when they were done taking pictures, he lost his grip, and he went down.” This poor boy fell 100 feet down the cliff at Bright Angel Point at the canyon's North Rim.
Wyatt’s parents told KPHO that it took three agonizing hours for rescue teams to reach him. After being carefully extricated from the remote area where he had fallen, Wyatt was rushed to a hospital in Nevada for urgent medical care. His father went into detail about the injuries Wyatt suffered in his fall.
“Nine fractured vertebrae, several broken ribs, broken hand, face was all messed up, back is all messed up, collapsed lung, and ruptured spleen.” Even though his list of injuries seems to be never-ending, Wyatt’s father did tell Inside Edition that the teen is doing remarkably well and is expected to recover fully.
The Kaufman family’s vacation may have taken an unexpected and traumatic turn, but they are undoubtedly grateful for the outcome that allowed them to bring Wyatt back home. Wyatt’s ordeal is a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Even though he has a lot of recovery to do, his survival serves as an inspiring story of resilience, hope, and the indomitable spirit of youth.
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Brian Kaufman had this to say about the incident, “I’m beyond thankful for everybody involved in his rescue and his medical care. I don’t care how old your kid is, keep an eye on them. Life happens in the blink of an eye.”
To view Wyatt’s whole story, click the video!
