GRAND CANYON, AZ — A 13-year-old boy was rescued Tuesday after falling over the edge at the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
Authorities said it took emergency crews two hours to rescue the 13-year-old after he slipped on a cliff Tuesday and plunged nearly 100 feet at the Bright Angel Point trail.
Officials say a helicopter was not feasible for the rescue and the boy had to be pulled up via rope rescue.
The teenager was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of nine broken vertebrae plus a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion, and a broken hand and dislocated finger.
"I can say with great confidence that they put to use advanced medical skills in an austere environment that are rarely executed in most other places, said Meghan Smith, preventive search and rescue supervisor, in a statement released by NPS. "It's clear that their training and hard work paid off, leading to a smooth, timely operation that will no doubt lead to better outcomes for this patient."
NPS recommends that visitors stay on designated trails and walkways and always keep a safe distance of at least six feet from the edge of the rim.
