A De Soto High School student who fell about 50 feet off a cliff at Pickle Springs Natural Area in Ste. Genevieve County during a field trip Wednesday morning (May 9) is expected to recover from his injuries, authorities reported.
Authorities have not released the name of the student, but De Soto School District Superintendent Josh Isaacson said in an email today (May 10) that “the student is expected to be OK.”
Farmington Fire Chief Todd Mecey said he believes the student “has some type of hip or pelvic injuries.”
Mecey also said the victim is 15- or 16-years old,
Both the Farmington and Wolf Creek fire departments responded to the scene at about 9:30 a.m. and rescued the student, who they found at the foot of the cliff.
The student was transported by helicopter to a hospital in St. Louis, the fire chiefs said.
“He was conscious and alert, talking,” Wolf Creek Fire Chief Bart Mabry said. “(Responders) got to him OK. We put him on a cart and wheeled him out.”
Mabry said the student struck rock as he fell, which actually slowed his fall and lessened the impact when he hit the bottom of the cliff.
This wasn’t the first fall at the nature area, Mabry said.
He said his department gets similar calls about “probably once or twice a year.”
Isaacson’s email said the field trip included 12 junior high and high school students and two school personnel.
“This is a trip that has been taken in the past by teachers and students in the district, he said. “The students were walking on a trail with staff when a high school student accidentally slipped and fell, resulting in the need for medical attention. The district considers the safety of all students, whether at school or on a field trip, a priority.”
Isaacson also thanked the first responders who rescued the student.
“We commend the quick actions taken by all of the students and staff on the trip as well as the actions taken by emergency personnel.”
Isaacson also said the district provided counselors for students to talk to if needed both Wednesday and today.