BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — A 17-year-old boy suffered critical injuries while hiking at Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Friday morning.
The teenager was above the waterfall at the popular spot at 9:11 a.m. when he fell approximately 15-20 feet, prompting a response from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team.
The teen was hoisted from the area with assistance from the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau, and then transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
Officials said a recreational drone entered the area during the rescue and interfered with the rescue. Officials warned drone operators to be aware of their surroundings and to avoid active emergency response scenes.
