GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — A 13-year-old North Dakota boy has survived a fall of almost 100 ft on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon throughout a household journey.
Authorities mentioned it took emergency crews two hours to rescue Wyatt Kauffman after he slipped on a cliff Tuesday and plunged the almost 100 ft (30 meters) on the Bright Angel Point path.
The teenager was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital for remedy of 9 damaged vertebrae plus a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion and a damaged hand and dislocated finger.
“I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture,” Kauffman instructed Phoenix TV station KPNX. “I squatted down and was holding on to a rock. I solely had one hand on it.
“It wasn’t that good of a grip. It was kind of pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back,” he added.
Rescue crews needed to rappel down the cliff and get the injured boy out of the canyon in a basket.
“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” to the hospital, mentioned Kauffman, who lives in Casselton, North Dakota.
Brian Kauffman was in North Dakota when he heard about his son’s fall and rescue.
A National Park Service search and rescue crew arrange a rope rescue right down to the steep and slim path and raised the teenager safely to the rim.
“We’re extremely grateful for the work of everyone. Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that,” Brian Kauffman mentioned.
He mentioned Wyatt and his mom had been on a visit to go to nationwide parks when the Grand Canyon fall occurred.
Brian Kauffman mentioned his son was discharged from the hospital Saturday and was being pushed residence. Wyatt and his mother had been anticipated to achieve Casselton on Tuesday.
“We’re just lucky we’re bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box,” Brian Kauffman instructed KPNX.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”