A 13-year-old boy survived a 100-foot fall from a Grand Canyon ledge while on a family trip. The boy was taken to a Las Vegas hospital after a two-hour rescue mission.
Wyatt Kauffman was severely injured and suffered a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and nine broken vertebrae.
The boy said he lost his grip while holding onto a rock near the steep cliff.
“I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture,” Kauffman told Phoenix TV station KPNX. “I squatted down and was holding on to 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,” he added.
“We're extremely grateful for the work of everyone. Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that,” the boy's father Brian Kauffman said.
He said Wyatt and his mother were on a trip to visit national parks when the Grand Canyon fall occurred.
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Brian Kauffman said his son was discharged from the hospital Saturday and was being driven home. Wyatt and his mom were expected to reach Casselton on Tuesday.
(With AP inputs)