Watch CBS News

VIDEO: Hiker Miraculously Survives After Plunging Down 3 Waterfalls

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (CBSNewYork)-- A helpless hiker was caught on camera tumbling head-over-heels down three waterfalls in Washington state.

Josh Reichert jumped to a rock in the middle of what's called Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park just outside of Seattle, CBS2's Cindy Hsu reported. He knew he was stuck, but instead of waiting for help, he tried to get out on his own.

"My head went first I went kind of like this a turtle on his back and rolled and then did a slow front flip," Reichert said.

He was sucked under water and trapped by a rock. The only way to get out was to go over the falls.

"I was like wow, I'm alive, I'm okay. Cool, I made it, I didn't realize it was a triple falls," he said.

He fell two more times. The second fall shattered his feet and on the third he nearly drowned.

"It was a miracle and all 'cause I did live, but I definitely probably should have died right then," he said.

He managed to swim to the side and get out. He was suffering from hypothermia when an EMT climbed down to him and kept him warm while ropes crews worked to rescue him. The rescue took nine and a half hours.

"I still can't believe he's alive, I'm seeing he's there but I couldn't believe my eyes," Katrin Kim, Reichert's wife, said.

It will take three months for Reichert's shattered heel and foot to heal. He hasn't seen the video because he said he doesn't want to hear his wife's screams of horror.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.