Survivor of Camelback Mountain accident speaks out

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - On Wednesday a Grand Canyon University student was critically injured in a fall over 60 feet off Camelback Mountain.

It's easy to slip on the rocks or for the rocks to break off if you're climbing. The accidents are not that rare, another young woman fell last month over 60 feet, that's like falling off a six story building.

17-year-old Michaela Good was airlifted off Camelback Mountain last month. She was rapelling down the rock face when she fell off the mountain.

"My eyes were wide open the entire time, and I remember just thinking like this isn't a dream, I'm about to die," said Michaela Good.

Miraculously Michaela survived the fall and did not suffer head or spinal injuries, but she did suffer serious and painful broken bones.

"I had two broken bones in my pelvis, a broken tailbone, and four broken bones in my ankle and now I have two metal plates and 4-8 screws, so I'm glad I'm alive," she said.

Michaela says if you're going to get on the mountain, understand the risks and get the training you need to do it safely.

"Well climbers definitely know what you're getting into before you try to attempt it, because those mountains are monsters, and if they get the chance they will swallow you whole," said Good.

If you're here to hike the mountain experts say wear the right shoes, have somebody hike with you, bring plenty of water, hike early in the day and most importantly to stay on the trail.