OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – A 15-year-old boy fell into the Sol Duc River near the hot springs campground in Olympic National Park on Monday and went over the famous falls. He survived the 50-foot fall with unknown injuries.

The minor, from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was walking beyond the fenced viewing platform area above Sol Duc Falls when he fell into the river. He was able to climb out of the water onto a boulder in the canyon below the falls.

A technical rope rescue operation was required to extract the patient from the canyon. Park staff lowered a lifejacket and helmet and two members of the Forks Fire Department Swift Water Team managed to get below the patient on the banks of the river to maintain containment in case the patient were to fall into the water.

After the boy was lifted from the canyon, he was carried nearly a mile on a wheeled litter to the trailhead and evaluated by medical personnel.