A 13-year-old boy fell over the edge of the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park on August 8. According to a news release from the National Park Service, the boy fell 70 to 100 feet. The NPS posted an update on August 10, saying the boy was alive and still in stable condition. On August 12, it was reported that he was out of the hospital and on his way home.
He was rescued by Grand Canyon National Park's Search and Rescue Team.
According to the NPS, the SAR Team determined on arrival that helicopter rescue would not be possible because of high winds, so they safely rescued him using rope.
"I can say with great confidence that they put to use advanced medical skills in an austere environment that are rarely executed in most other places," Preventive Search and Rescue Supervisor Meghan Smith said. "It's clear that their training and hard work paid off, leading to a smooth, timely operation that will no doubt lead to better outcomes for this patient."
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After being rescued, the teen was taken to a pediatric trauma center in Las Vegas. According to an August 10 update from the NPS, the teen was in stable condition and being treated for injuries from the fall before being discharged from the hospital on August 12.
The boy's injuries include nine broken vertebrae, a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion, a broken hand, and a dislocated finger, reports Time.
The teen told told Phoenix TV station KPNX that he fell because he was moving out of people's way so they could take photos.
“I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture," the teen told the news station. “I squatted down, and when I was, holding on to a rock. I only had one hand on it. It wasn’t that good of a grip. It was kinda pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back."
“After the fall, I don't remember anything after that. I just remember somewhat waking up and being in the back of an ambulance and a helicopter and getting on a plane and getting here," the teenager said.
His dad posted a Facebook update, saying that the teen was still in pain but was out of the hospital.
It reportedly took the SAR team two hours to rescue the teen. Brian Kauffman, the teen's dad, said the family is "extremely grateful" that their son was rescued.
"Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that, but when they have to rappel down the cliff and get them out of the out of the canyon in a basket," he told the news station.
“We're just lucky we're bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat, instead of in a box," the teen's dad added.
In the news release about the incident, the NPS reminded visitors that the Bright Angel Point Trail is "exposed, narrow, and surprisingly steep" and encouraged them to "stay on designated trails and walkways and always keep a safe distance if at least six feet (2 m) from the edge of the rim."
The park's Search and Rescue Team is responsible for responding to 300 calls per year on average, including calls related to heat illness or falling.
The park also shared the following safety reminders for visitors:
"1. Stay on designated trails and walkways and always keep a safe distance of at least six feet (2 m) from the edge of the rim.
2. In areas where there is a railing or fence, do not climb over the barrier.
3. Keep an eye on all the people in your group, especially small children.
4. Make sure that your travel companions have both feet firmly planted on pavement or developed trails.
5. Know where the edge is. Watch foot placement and look for trip hazards.
6. Do not run, jump, or perform physical stunts near the rim.
7. Do not back up without first looking where you are going."
