Parent plunges more than 70 feet during family’s spring break hike in Utah

MOAB, Utah - A parent was critically injured in a 70–80 foot fall near Moab on April 10, triggering a complex three-hour rescue, according to the Grand County Search and Rescue. 

The exact cause of the fall remains unknown. Officials noted that the canyon’s sloping cliff edges can be deceptive and urged visitors to use caution in the area.

Dig deeper:

The incident unfolded in Pritchett Canyon, where a visiting family of four had parked their off-highway vehicles near Pritchett Arch and hiked toward nearby Cummings Arch. 

The group split into two pairs during the hike, and one adult, moving more slowly, fell after getting too close to the edge. The fall was not witnessed, but a child heard the screams and alerted the other parent.

The injured adult suffered severe trauma, including open fractures and possible internal injuries. 

The other parent used a satellite-enabled iPhone to text 911, summoning help to the remote and rugged terrain, about five miles from Moab but up to a three-hour drive by trail.

Grand County Search and Rescue and EMS responded, along with an Intermountain Health medical helicopter that arrived within minutes.

Authorities said the operation—from the time of the fall to the patient’s evacuation—took just under three hours. A second helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety later assisted in retrieving rescuers and equipment.