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Man flown to hospital after falling 80 feet in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Posted at 12:37 PM, Jul 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-05 19:28:51-04

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — Search and rescue crews rescued a man who partially severed his foot after falling an estimated 80 feet in Big Cottonwood Canyon Wednesday.

According to Unified Police, the victim is a 37-year-old man who suffered a severe leg injury after falling about 80 feet while climbing.

Crews reached the man near Twin Lakes and a medical helicopter responded to take the man to a hospital. He is listed as being in serious but stable condition.

The man performed some first aid on himself after the fall to stop the bleeding from the wound, and then he had to recover his phone and call for help.

"During the fall he lost his cell phone," said Lt. Brian Lorhke of the Unified Police Department. "He had to go back and re-track the fall to find the cell phone to call for help, so just an excruciating experience I'm sure."

The man was able to provide rescuers with GPS coordinates once he located his phone and made contact, which allowed crews to locate the man and extract him via helicopter.

Police say the man was prepared with food and water and a charged cell phone, and they say he even told someone where he was planning to go on his outing. However, the man was recreating alone, which police say they advise against doing.