GRAND CANYON JUNCTION, ARIZONA: A teen from North Dakota narrowly escaped death after suffering a 100-foot fall on a family trip to the Grand Canyon on Tuesday, August 8.
Wyatt Kauffman, 14, who received medical treatment in the hospital after sustaining nine shattered vertebrae, a burst spleen, and other serious injuries, described the terrifying experience from his hospital bed.
Who is Wyatt Kauffmann?
Wyatt Kauffman is a 14-year-old North Dakota boy who survived a 100-foot fall from a rock at the Grand Canyon while on vacation with his family.
He was stepping aside to allow others to take a photo when he collapsed near the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
Kauffman sustained nine shattered vertebrae, a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion, a broken hand, and a dislocated finger in the accident.
Numerous first responders from the National Park Service spent two hours scaling down the rock at Bright Angel Point trail in order to bring back the youngster in a basket.
How did Kauffman survive 100-foot fall at Grand Canyon?
"After the fall, I don’t remember anything after that," Kauffman told Arizona-based KPNX from his hospital bed.
"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."
He was holding on to a rock while squatting down, he said. "I only had one hand on it," Kauffman added. "It wasn’t that good of a grip. It was kind of pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back."
One side of his face was marred by bruising and scars, but his father, Brian, told the channel that it "looks a lot better than it did yesterday."
Brian was in North Dakota exploring national parks with his children and wife. The young man has apparently been discharged and was on his way home over the weekend.
"We’re just lucky we’re bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box," Brian Kauffman stated.
