Teenager Miraculously Survives 400-Foot Canyon Fall

A 19-year-old fell more than 400 feet in a Washington state canyon over the weekend and escaped with only minor injuries.

The teen was attempting to walk under the High Steel Bridge in Mason County on Saturday when he fell and plunged 420 feet, Fire Chief Matthew Welander of West Mason Fire told King 5.

The Mason County Sheriff's Office shared a Facebook post confirming the rescue, including photos from the scene, in which the teen's face is blurred and a crew is seen sending a harnessed firefighter out of the bridge. Authorities were forced to use binoculars to spot the teenager.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Special Operations Rescue Team, he was rescued and suffered minimal injuries,” the sheriff added.

The teenager reportedly suffered only a few scratches in the fall, but was taken to hospital for examination.

Tim Ripp, a Mason County sheriff's patrol corporal who was part of the two-hour rescue mission, told NBC News that five to seven people fall from the bridge each year and the majority of them die.

“We've been telling people to stay off these trails because they're dangerous,” Ripp said, “but people haven't seen the warning signs or aren't heeding them.”

In a Facebook post, the West Mason Fire Department added, “Thankfully the 19-year-old made it out alive. Many of our rescues are not so lucky. Remember NOT to go down next to the bridge.