Boy, 11, survives 200-foot sliding fall in Utah
PROVO, Utah Authorities say an 11-year-old boy has survived falling 200 feet down the face of a cliff near a scenic waterfall in Utah.
Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff's Office says the boy was conscious and talking to rescuers before he was airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City Sunday afternoon, CBS affiliate KUTV reported.
Cannon says the boy was hiking a trail to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon over the weekend. He had taken a few jumping steps when he tumbled down a steep, rocky slope. The boy came to rest above a trail along the Provo River.
Officials say the child hurt his head, back and hip, and he might have a broken collar bone. But they say none of his injuries appear to be life-threatening.
Sgt. Eldon Paker told KUTV that the boy was in a popular but dangerous location of the Bridal Veil Falls trail when the accident happened.
"It's a very popular spot," Parker said. "It's very easy to get off the trail, and it gets slippery with the wet rock and other things, as well as the loose rock."