Hiker Survives 700-Foot Fall From Oregon’s Mount Hood Thanks To “Some Kind of Miracle”

A hiker is lucky to be alive after a terrifying fall from Mount Hood in Oregon. Since turning 50, Chris Zwierzynski, now 55, has made it his goal to climb to the highest point in all 50 states. On July 6 during his ascent in Oregon, he fell a staggering 700 feet. Crews airlifted Chris to an area hospital for treatment.

According to a statement from the Clackamas County Sheriff, two off-duty military medics witnessed Chris’s horrific fall and quickly made their way to help him. He slipped on frozen snow and couldn’t stop himself from tumbling down the mountain.

Thankfully, the conditions on the mountain were ideal for a rescue on the day of the fall, and crews were able to get Chris off the mountain in a relatively short amount of time. He was en route to the hospital within six hours.

“May through early July is a popular time to climb Mt. Hood, and good climbing conditions have lasted longer this year than most. Nevertheless, all routes up the mountain are technical, requiring specialized training and equipment. All routes become progressively more difficult approaching the summit, which can lure inexperienced climbers into situations beyond their skill. Portland Mountain Rescue urges climbers to get proper training from an organization like the Mazamas , or to climb with a qualified guide,” Mark Morford of Portland Mountain Rescue said in a statement.

The Mount Hood Hiker’s Injuries Were So Significant It’s a Shock He’s Alive

His wife, Laurie Zwierzynski, told KPNX her husband had broken ribs, a brain bleed, a concussion, and his eye sockets were broken. Chris’ eyes were swollen shut, and yet he is still here.

“Most of the doctors that I talk to, my friends, my family, everyone’s using the word miracle like I’m some kind of miracle for having survived this fall,” he told the news station. “Maybe I am.”

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.

The post Hiker Survives 700-Foot Fall From Oregon’s Mount Hood Thanks To “Some Kind of Miracle” appeared first on InspireMore .