Utah Hunter Rescued After Falling Into A 40-Foot Icy Ravine

A Utah man was successfully rescued after he slipped and went plummeting down to the bottom of an icy ravine. The 32-year-old man was hunting on the hills of Weber County when he slipped and fell 30 to 40 feet into a ravine Saturday.

Due to the cold weather and snow in the area, the man could not climb out by himself.

"It happened so quick, I really couldn't tell you what I was thinking," the man said to WTVT. "All I know is right at the end of it, there was a straight drop off, there was a little shrub oak tree I grabbed onto, held on. It stopped me and the dogs were right behind me. One hit me in the back — it was like chain reaction — and the next one hit the other dog."

The man remained in the ravine and called a search and rescue team for assistance, ABC4 reported. He had not sustained any injuries during the fall and waited inside the ravine until help arrived. Lt. Mark Horton, who was overseeing the search and rescue operation put together three climb teams; they worked together swiftly to determine the hunter’s location.

"Many team members responded, including three climb teams that had to rappel into the ravine to get the man out," Weber County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team said on Facebook.

Once the man was pulled out of the ravine, the rescue team, the man and his two dogs were able to walk out of the foothills on his own. "Another job well done, and thank you to those who assisted in this rescue," the rescue team wrote on the post.

"Kudos to the Weber County Sheriff's Office and officers who enable the conditions to allow these highly skilled volunteers to accomplish such rescues," said one commenter on Facebook.

Lt. Horton urged people to call them if they get stuck in a similar situation, as per WTVT.