‘We’re just lucky we’re bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat. Instead of in a box’
A teenager fell 100-feet after slipping off a cliff at the Grand Canyon and has lived to tell the tale.
Wyatt Kauffman has recalled the harrowing experience from his hospital bed where he is now recovering after breaking nine vertebrae, rupturing his spleen and suffering several other severe injuries.
The 13-year-old said he fell on 8 August after moving out of the way at the North Rim so other tourists could take a picture at the Arizona-attraction.
The North Dakota teen told KPNX: “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.”
After the rescue and airlift to Las Vegas, Wyatt was flown to a pediatric trauma centre for further care.
Wyatt, who was visiting the attraction with his family, recalled the moment he fell.
“I squatted down and was holding onto a rock. I only 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.”
It took two hours and dozens of first responders with the National Park Service to repel down the cliff at Bright Angel Point trail and rescue Wyatt from the canyon in a basket.
Wyatt also concussed in the fall, and suffered a collapsed lung, broken hand and dislocated finger.
Pictures of the teen also show he has scars and bruises over his face.
Wyatt’s dad, Brian Kauffman, told KPNX, that his son “looks a lot better than it did yesterday.”
According to reports, Wyatt has since been discharged from hospital, much to the relief of his family.
“We’re just lucky we’re bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat,” Brian said. “Instead of in a box.”
The family plan to take a road trip back to replace the memories of the fall.
In 2022, there were 1,086 emergency medical service incidents and 11 fatalities at the Grand Canyon National Park, as listed on the National Park Service site.
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