Teenager Falls 400 Feet Near Iconic Bridge, Miraculously Survives

Police have spoken out after a teenager fell 400ft near the High Steel Bridge and miraculously survived.

On Saturday, May 25, a 19-year-old man fell “approximately 400 feet into the canyon at the High Steel Bridge” that spans the Skokomish River in Mason County, Washington, according to a police report.

The Mason County Sheriff's Office said the teen was trying to walk under the historic bridge when he fell.

West Mason Fire Chief Matthew Welander told KING 5, “He was walking on washed out land that a lot of people use that has kind of become a trail. It's not a trail.

“It's a washout, it's too steep. And it ended up all the way down to the river, sliding.”

However, miraculously the teen – who has not been publicly named – survived the fall and emerged with only minor injuries, the Mason County Sheriff's Office took to the media social media to share the news of the rescue mission.

In a Facebook post on May 26, police shared photographs of the rescue mission and thanked those involved in the teen's recovery.

The caption read: “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Special Operations Rescue Team, he was rescued and suffered only minimal injuries.

“The team (West Mason Fire – WA, The Mighty Mason 6 and the Mason County Sheriff's Office) worked diligently to ensure a safe and successful operation. We are grateful for their quick and professional response.”

And this isn't the first time someone has fallen near the bridge either.

In 1985, Steve Jones also ended up falling 400 feet after trying to descend near the bridge.

He told KING 5 Seattle: “We were on the bridge planning to throw gliders off the bridge and the bag of gliders got caught in the wind and the whole bag went to the bottom.

“So we thought it would be nice to go down and try to get our gliders.”

Jones ended up hitting his head and remembers how he and his friend who was with him at the time “seriously thought” they were “going to die.”

He resolves: “We were very, very lucky. I feel like we were spared for a reason. So I like, you know, I felt like this kid was spared for a reason too. reason. Let's see what it is.”

UNILAD has contacted the Mason County Sheriff's Office for further comment.

Featured Image Credit: KING 5 Seattle via YouTube/Mason County Sheriff's Office

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