Grand Canyon in Arizona: 13-year-old survives fall from a height of almost 30 meters

8/15/2023, 9:56:26 AM

Highlights: A U.S. teenager has fallen dozens of meters at the Grand Canyon. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries – but was lucky in his misfortune. The boy slipped at the Bright Angel Point lookout on Aug. 8, the National Park Service reported. He suffered several fractured vertebrae, a tear in his spleen and a broken hand. The 13-year-old has since been able to leave the clinic, according to media reports, including the BBC. He had crouched down and held on to a rock, but did not have a good grip.

A U.S. teenager has fallen dozens of meters at the Grand Canyon. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries – but was lucky in his misfortune.

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Grand Canyon (symbolic image): Delicate rescue operation

Photo: Aleksei Velizhanin / 500px / Getty Images

A teenager from North Dakota fell about 30 meters during a family trip at the Grand Canyon. The boy slipped at the Bright Angel Point lookout on Aug. 8, the National Park Service reported.

Rescue workers freed the 13-year-old from his predicament. He was flown to hospital with serious injuries, including several fractured vertebrae, a tear in his spleen and a broken hand.

"After the fall, I can't remember anything"

But how did the accident happen? The teenager said in an interview with the television channel KPNX that he wanted to avoid other people who wanted to take a picture. He had crouched down and held on to a rock. However, he did not have a good grip, he lost his grip and fell.

"I can't remember anything after the fall," he said. He woke up at some point in an ambulance and in a helicopter and was finally taken to hospital by plane. According to media reports, including the BBC, he has since been able to leave the clinic.

Dozens of rescue workers were involved in the recovery. The team rappelled down after deciding that a helicopter rescue was not possible due to the terrain.

bbr/AP