1-year-old uninjured, man critically hurt in 80-foot fall while rappelling Arizona river

LITTLEFIELD, AZ (FOX5) — A 1-year-old child escaped injury, and an adult man suffered critical injuries Saturday after falling roughly 80 feet while rappelling in the Virgin River Gorge area northeast of Las Vegas, authorities said.

Emergency personnel with Beaver Dam Fire Rescue were dispatched Sept. 26 to the Ghost Valley Trailhead near mile marker 18 along I-15.

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Initial reports indicated both the man and the toddler had fallen, though their conditions were not immediately known. Responders from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington County Search and Rescue also responded.

While primary crews worked their way to the victims, a second fire rescue unit established an emergency landing zone at Exit 18 for a Mercy Air medical helicopter.

Rescuers located the pair and determined the 1-year-old was unharmed, while the man sustained critical injuries. Teams worked for roughly three hours to navigate the steep, rocky terrain and complete the extrication.

The Beaver Dam Littlefield Fire Department transported the man to St. George Regional Hospital in Utah for advanced trauma care.

First responders urged outdoor enthusiasts to exercise caution when exploring remote desert regions and to assess all risks before taking part in technical activities like rappelling.