by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:36 AM ET, Thu May 21, 2015
Photo via Twitter
Visiting Yellowstone National Park is one of the top activities for anyone looking for the best parts of the American landscape, but one New York tourist got more than he bargained for Sunday when he survived almost falling into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
According to The Associated Press, the 71-year-old New York resident-his name has not been released to the public-was attempting to take a photograph when he fell backwards down 25 feet into a small crevice above the canyon.
When asked about the situation, Yellowstone park officials released a statement, "According to staff on scene, the man was extremely lucky. The crevice and the angle of his body during the fall helped the man stop at the top of a 200 foot drop. A fall just inches to the left may have resulted in a fatality as the canyon wall is mostly steep loose rock."
With the man holding himself up just feet away from a drop that surely would kill him, the park rangers acted quickly and immediately began a rescue operation. Using a tree and a sign to secure the climbing gear, the rangers rappelled to the man and managed to lift him to safety.
ABC News shared an image on Twitter of the rescue:
After the successful rescue, the elderly victim was transported to a local hospital where he was being treated for a possible hip injury. Regardless of the severity of the man's injuries, he should consider himself lucky to be alive.
Many people will be traveling during the Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer, so use this tale as a lesson; be careful of your surroundings when in dangerous areas and always think safety first.
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