BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah, June 20, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A high school-aged hiker was critically injured Friday after falling 10 to 20 feet while navigating steep, rocky terrain above Donut Falls, according to Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.
The teen was part of a group of nine hikers in the area when the fall occurred. Rescuers said he suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including broken bones and severe lacerations, the SLCSSR statement said.
Unified Police Department and Unified Fire Authority crews responded first and requested Search and Rescue assistance because of the technical terrain. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter also was dispatched due to the severity of the injuries.
While Search and Rescue ground teams prepared for a technical rope rescue, the helicopter crew evaluated a hoist operation. After the patient was stabilized, the DPS helicopter successfully hoisted the teen from the canyon and transported him to Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, where he was transferred to a waiting ambulance.
He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
Search and Rescue officials said a recreational drone flying in the area delayed the helicopter’s landing on the roadway, prompting a reminder for drone operators to avoid emergency scenes.
“While drones are a tool that we use as part of our SAR operations, recreational drones can significantly affect or delay SAR team response and potentially impact patient outcomes,” the agency said.
