Man injured in cliff fall identified; DRMC gives update on condition

ST. GEORGE – A 19-year-old man who was listed in critical condition Wednesday evening after falling approximately 50-60 feet from the cliffs behind Entrada in St. George has been identified and an update on his condition has been released.

A 19-year-old man is transported to the hospital by Life Flight in critical condition after falling approximately 50-60 feet from a cliff, St. George, Utah, Oct. 21, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
A 19-year-old man is transported to the hospital by Life Flight in critical condition after falling approximately 50-60 feet from a cliff, St. George, Utah, Oct. 21, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Terri Draper, spokesperson for Intermountain Healthcare’s southwest region and Dixie Regional Medical Center, confirmed the 19-year-old who fell from the cliff was Mordecai Purdy.

As of 3:44 p.m. Thursday, Purdy went from critical condition to serious condition at Dixie Regional Medical Center, Draper said.

While a wide range of terms are often used to describe a patient’s condition, the American Hospital Association advises physicians to use one-word conditions in describing a patient’s condition to those inquiring and defines “serious condition” as: “vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is seriously ill. Indicators are questionable.”

Purdy had been hiking alone and not on a trail in the cliff area above Magatsu Circle at Entrada when he fell, St. George Fire Battalion Chief Robert Hooper said.

A 19-year-old man was transported to the hospital by Life Flight in critical condition after falling approximately 50-60 feet from a cliff, St. George, Utah, Oct. 21, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
A 19-year-old man was transported to the hospital by Life Flight in critical condition after falling approximately 50-60 feet from a cliff, St. George, Utah, Oct. 21, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Emergency crews were dispatched to the fall around 5:30 p.m. after Purdy was able to use his cellphone to call for help. From his cellphone, he was able to guide Washington County Search and Rescue crews to his exact location down beneath the cliffs.

Purdy suffered multiple injuries to his extremities as a result of the fall, including a severely injured arm, and was listed in critical condition when he was transported by Life Flight to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.

Because of the remote location, Hooper said, if Purdy had not been able to call for help from his cellphone, he likely wouldn’t have been found for days.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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1 Comment

  • Mean Momma October 23, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    I really hope this isn’t the same Mordecai Purdy I just looked up on FB? If so PLEASE send this ungrateful, ignorant little boy to some 3rd world country to get his medical care. Posting pictures of burning an American flag and saying F@&# America… Well if this is you, I hope that fall fixed your brain… If it’s not you then I wish you all the best in a speedy recovery and please don’t hike alone anymore, if you are able to ever hike again!

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