Teen plummets 400 feet near iconic bridge and miraculously survives
Mason County Sheriff's Office confirmed the 19-year-old fell near High Steel Bridge
Police have spoken out after a teenager fell 400 feet near High Steel Bridge and miraculously survived.
On Saturday (May 25), a 19-year-old man fell 'approximately 400 feet down the side of the canyon at the High Steel Bridge' which spans the Skokomish River in Mason County, Washington state, police report.
Mason County Sheriff's Office say the teenager was trying to walk under the historic bridge when he fell.
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West Mason Fire Chief Matthew Welander told KING 5: "He was walking down a washout that a lot of people use, and has kind of become a trail. It’s not a trail.
"It’s a washout, it’s too steep. And he ended up all the way down at the river, sliding."
However, miraculously, the teenager - who hasn't been publicly named - survived the fall and came out with only minor injuries, with Mason County Sheriff’s Office taking to social media to share the news of the rescue mission.
In a post to Facebook on May 26, police shared photographs from the rescue mission alongside thanking 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 sustained only minimal injuries.
"The team (West Mason Fire - WA, The Mighty Mason 6, and Mason County Sheriff's Office) worked diligently to ensure a safe and successful operation. We are grateful for their swift and professional response."
And it's not the first time someone has taken a fall near the bridge either.
In 1985, Steve Jones also ended up falling 400 feet after trying to hike down near the bridge.
He told KING 5 Seattle: "We were on the bridge and 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 fine to hike down and try to recover our gliders."
Jones ended up hitting his head and recalls 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 also was spared for a reason. Let's find out what it is."
UNILAD has contacted Mason County Sheriff's Office for further comment.
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Poppy Bilderbeck