A teenager miraculously escaped with only minor injuries after plummeting approximately 400 feet down a canyon in Washington State during the Memorial Day weekend, according to authorities.
According to Fire Chief Matthew Welander, a 19-year-old individual fell while attempting to hike beneath the High Steel Bridge on Saturday.
Related posts
A rescue team promptly responded to the situation, with a skilled firefighter donning a harness and descending down the side of the bridge to reach the teenager in need.
He said that they hooked him up into a harness and brought him all the way back up.
The High Steel Bridge holds the distinction of being the tallest railroad bridge ever constructed in the United States, standing at an impressive height of 365 feet, as reported by the Washington Trails Association.
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the successful rescue in a statement posted on its Facebook page. Along with the statement, they have also shared photos of the operation.
The sheriff’s office expressed their gratitude for the tremendous efforts of our Special Operations Rescue Team, as they successfully rescued him with only minimal injuries sustained.
Rescue attempts are made between three and five times a year, as revealed by Welander. However, these attempts often result in the recovery of a body rather than a survivor. In fact, for every one person who is saved, there are approximately 20 deaths.
“We have had plenty of experience removing deceased individuals from this location,” he remarked.
West Mason Fire posted a warning on its Facebook page on Monday, advising people not to hike down next to the bridge.
“It’s a relief that the 19-year-old managed to survive. Unfortunately, many of our rescues aren’t as fortunate,” the statement mentioned.
