The timing was ideal, the response was very quick, and hopefully that will bode well for his recovery. – Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon
PROVO — A 13-year-old boy is in serious condition after a 30-foot fall while he was hiking Wednesday night.
Dispatchers received a call just before 6 p.m. reporting the boy had fallen about 15 feet while hiking with relatives at Stewart Falls in Provo Canyon, but emergency crews said the fall was likely double what they initially thought, Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said.
The boy suffered a deep laceration on the side of his head, causing him to lose consciousness for several minutes, as well as a battered knee and elbow, Cannon said. He was taken by medical helicopter to Primary Children's Medical Center.
The boy likely tripped and fell over the cliff edge, Cannon said.
"It's just a little nerve-wracking and scary when you have a head injury like that, because so many things can go bad so quickly," he said. "We're hopeful for a good outcome, but we don't know exactly how it will turn out yet."
Emergency crews arrived as quickly as possible for the area, Cannon said, and the boy was conscious when he was transported.
"The timing was ideal, the response was very quick, and hopefully that will bode well for his recovery," he said, noting that the medical helicopter came from nearby Provo and was able to land close to the area.
The boy was en route to the hospital within an hour of the call.
— McKenzie Romero