Father, son rescued from cliffside in Snow Canyon State Park
Miracle find helps father and son survive a night stranded on a cliff
After finding provisions in a discarded backpack, Julian Hernandez and his son survive a night stranded on a cliff in Snow Canyon State Park, Utah.
USA Today
A father and his son were rescued from a steep cliffside in Utah after they became trapped while hiking in the area.
The man and his 12-year-old son were hiking in Snow Canyon State Park on Feb. 17 when they got lost and ended up getting stranded on a shallow ledge, the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a news release.
The two remained trapped overnight and were eventually rescued after helicopter crew located them “stranded on a shallow ledge and hoisted them to safety” around 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 17. Teams with Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue “worked through the night, and into the early morning hours” in locating and rescuing the pair, the department said.
Video footage from the incredible rescue shows the man frantically waving at the helicopter before rescue officials airlift them from the canyon. Officials first hoist the child to safety before then rescuing the father.
“In a twist of fate, the hikers found a backpack left behind by another hiker previously rescued from the same area,” the news release said. “Inside were food, water, and emergency blankets that the two were able to utilize.”
Video footage from the rescue shows the two wrapped in blankets and an official can be heard saying: “They’re covered up in blankets.” Temperatures dipped to a low of 34 degrees and 37 degrees on Feb. 16 and 17 in Snow Canyon, according to AccuWeather.
It is not immediately clear how the two ended up stranded on the cliffside and who alerted authorities of the incident. Washington County Search and Rescue did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for more information.
Located close to Utah’s border with Arizona and Nevada, Snow Canyon State Park is about 315 miles south of Salt Lake City. Activities at the park include hiking, biking, camping, wildlife viewing, stargazing and junior ranger programs.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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