Hiker rescued after surviving 100ft drop from mountain
29-year-old spent over five hours stuck on cliff edge, authorities said
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A man hiking in Utah has survived a fall of more than 100ft from a mountain after being stranded alone on the ledge for over five hours.
The 29-year-old, who had been hiking in the foothills just north of Salt Lake City on Sunday, slipped from an edge near the base of Ensign Peak, KSL reported.
“He misstepped, got too close to the edge and took a slide and tumble halfway down the cliff base into the rock quarry,” Salt Lake City Fire Department Batallion Chief Mark Bednarik said.
Officials said that the man, who has not been named, was stuck on the mountain for over five hours after he dropped his phone.
CBS News reported that a group of homeless people called 911 after they heard the man yelling, flashing his flashlight and waving his arms.
According to officials, the man sustained injuries to his pelvis and leg but was conscious and stable during the rescue.
“He couldn’t move. He was stranded on that ledge with injuries to his legs and pelvis,” Chief Bednarik said.
The Heavy Rescue Team was called out to help the man off the ledge and lower him to safety.
“We were able to find a solid tree and some rocks to hook up to, and we lowered rescuers down to him,” the chief said.
Images posted by the department showed the hiker perched at the edge of another impending drop-off, and a video showed the crew working to lower the man down the cliffside.
Chief Bednarik urged hikers to stay safe on the mountains and to inform family members of their whereabouts.
“As a reminder, we hope people will always let someone know where they are going, when they hike, and what time they plan to return – that way authorities will be alerted if they don’t return."
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