CEDAR CITY — Rescuers in Garfield County successfully extricated an 11-year-old girl who was seriously injured by a rockfall on a popular hiking trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on Thursday evening.
Garfield County Sheriff Eric Houston said the girl was recreating with her family in the Lower Calf Creek Falls area when a natural rockfall occurred, sending several rocks tumbling down from a sheer cliff located near the waterfall.
Houston said that although the girl had been sitting approximately 25-30 feet away from the cliff, she was struck in the leg by a falling rock, causing a severe laceration.
Family members and other bystanders were able to render first aid while calling 911 for help, Houston said, adding that a makeshift tourniquet was applied to the girl’s leg.
Responding to the scene were Garfield County Sheriff’s deputies, Garfield County Search and Rescue team members and volunteers, Escalante Fire Department personnel and a Classic Air medical helicopter crew out of Page, Arizona.
The first responders were able to reach the girl at approximately 6:40 p.m., or about 70 minutes from the time of the injury, Houston said. After receiving medical care at the scene, the girl was then transported via the Classic Air helicopter to St. George Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Houston told Cedar City News on Friday afternoon that he had not yet received any updates on the girl’s condition.
The sheriff praised the collaborative efforts of all who participated in the rescue.
“Everyone was fantastic,” he said. “This really is a great example of everyone working together.”
Houston added that he wasn’t exactly sure how large the rock was that struck the girl, only that it was smaller than he had pictured in his mind prior to seeing the photos taken by the rescue team.
This report is based on statements from law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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