In Video: California hikers survive two nights in wilderness after falling off a cliff

Miracle Survivors: California Hikers Describe 800-Foot Cliffs Plunge and Frigid Wilderness Ordeal

A harrowing adventure turned miracle as a pair of hikers, Christopher and V Lynn, miraculously survived an 800-foot fall down a cliffside in the San Bernardino Mountains. The incident has left the pair with physical and emotional scars, but they are now recovering in a hospital and speaking out about their ordeal.

"We were literally just like, ‘Let’s take a normal hike,’ and then, like, one wrong step," Christopher said, recalling the fateful moment when their trek turned disastrous.

As they made their way through the rugged terrain, the pair encountered a steep cliff face. "I took a wrong step, and we both tumbled 800 feet down the cliff," Chris explained. "It was like, I was trying to like, belly flat, like, to stop momentum. My left shoe fell off, and my foot was exposed to the elements."

With their 911 call received by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, a helicopter was sent to the scene, but strong winds made an airlift impossible. "I think I was just in, like, straight panic mode," Chris said. "My face is all gashed up, and I was just trying to stay calm and stay warm."

As night started to fall, the hikers huddled together, trying to conserve body heat and stay sheltered from the biting wind. "We found a tree and kind of like, huddled under it," V Lynn added. "We just told ourselves, ‘We have to survive this, so hopefully, in the next few hours, people will come.’"

The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team, undeterred by the treacherous conditions, braved the blinding snow, ice, and high altitude to reach the stranded hikers on foot. Using ropes and stretchers, the team carefully moved the injured pair to a safe location, where they started a fire to keep them warm.

Their rescue was nothing short of a miracle. "When we saw them coming, it was like, ‘Things are going to be okay now,’" V Lynn said, her voice filled with emotion. "It was just so comforting to see them."

After three days of struggle and exposure, the pair was finally airlifted to safety, each bearing serious injuries. Christopher suffered a fractured pelvis, gashes on his legs, while V Lynn had fractures on her spine, hip, and face, as well as frostbite on her fingers. "We’re just super grateful to be alive," Christopher said, reflecting on their ordeal.

As they embark on the long road to recovery, the hikers are grateful for the second chance at life. "It’s just like, we’re so happy to be alive," V Lynn said, her voice filled with tears. "We’re just, like, so grateful to have each other, and to have this chance to, like, start again."

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