Teen Hiker ‘Lucky,’ Avoids 200-Foot Fall

An 18-year-old hiker who slid down a ravine Saturday evening in Laguna Niguel came within a few feet of a deadly 200-foot vertical drop and escaped with only scratches, according to an Orange County Fire Authority spokesman.

Shaun Gray of San Juan Capistrano was hiking shortly before 8 p.m. near Talavera Drive, said Capt. Paul Hunter of the fire authority.

“He went down what he thought was trail,” Hunter said. But instead, “he slid 50 to 75 feet down the side of an embankment. He grabbed onto a bush about 10 feet before a 200-foot vertical drop. He was pretty lucky.”

When emergency workers arrived, one person was sent over the edge of the embankment to attach Gray to a safety harness.

When the authority’s urban search and rescue truck arrived, workers used a rope and rigging system to haul Gray up at about 9:20 p.m., Hunter said.

“He had a little scrape on his finger--that was it,” Hunter said. “He was darn lucky. If he would have gone another 10 feet, this would be a whole different story.”