A Colorado woman is alive and recovering after surviving an incredible 200-foot fall during a Christmas Eve hike in the San Gabriel mountains.
Ruth Woroniecki, 40, of Thornton, Colo., had summited Cucamonga Peak in California and was heading back down the mountain when she slipped on a patch of ice and fell. The experienced hiker suffered a broken neck, a severe head wound, and facial lacerations.
After the fall, Woroniecki had to walk 150 feet to a nearby clearing to meet up with a rescue helicopter, which was hampered by high winds. Woroniecki said she had to hold her broken neck to keep it stable the entire walk.
When the rescue helicopter arrived, Woroniecki was found surrounded by people who had been trying to help her. One had sent their GPS coordinates to rescuers while another was wrapping her up with their coat. A search crew later determined a rescue helicopter was her best option.
However, an aircrew could not safely send a rescuer down to her exact position due to high winds. So, Woroniecki was left with no other choice but to hike 150 feet to a nearby clearing, where the rescue helicopter was able to pick her up. Afterward, she was flown out of the area and transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Chris Mejia of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said the odds of Woroniecki surviving the fall were slim. “For her to be alive,” he said, “that’s a miracle.”
Woroniecki recalled thinking, “Jesus, now, help me. Be with me.” She told NBC News that she is happy to have survived the harrowing incident on Dec. 24 with the help of good Samaritans who found her after the fall.
“I’m just deeply, deeply grateful,” she said.
Woroniecki is still recovering from her injuries, but she’s back on her feet, which is “extremely exciting,” she said. “That’s what I was saying about prayer,” Woroniecki said. “And he brought me that sense of hope and comfort, and he got me through.”
