How did Jake McCollum survive his fall?

Jake McCollum survived an 80-meter fall thanks to a personal locator beacon and his AirPods, which facilitated communication with rescuers.

Where did the fall happen?

The fall occurred on Mount Walsh, north of Brisbane, Australia, during Jake McCollum's solo bushwalk.

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Teen Survives 80m Fall Thanks to AirPods

Q: What injuries did Jake McCollum sustain?

Jake McCollum suffered a fractured spine, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and a significant head laceration.

16 Jan

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Summary

Teenager fell 80 metres from Mount Walsh, sustaining severe injuries.
AirPods and a personal locator beacon facilitated his eventual rescue.
Rescue took five hours, with the teen critically relying on audio.
The fall occurred during the teenager's first solo bushwalk.

Teen Survives 80m Fall Thanks to AirPods

A harrowing ordeal unfolded for 18-year-old Jake McCollum, who survived an 80-meter fall from Mount Walsh north of Brisbane. The incident occurred during his inaugural solo bushwalk, leaving him with a fractured spine, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and a serious head laceration. Remarkably, his survival and subsequent rescue were significantly aided by a personal locator beacon and his 'hand me down' AirPods.

Following the fall, McCollum activated his beacon, but pinpointing his location proved difficult due to challenging terrain. A crucial connection was re-established when his mother called his AirPods, allowing him to communicate his dire situation. This audio link became vital when his phone’s battery died, and he could only faintly hear his parents as a rescue helicopter approached.