Margaux Cohen suffered a broken leg and is currently unable to walk or work after she and her dog Zion plunged 60 feet while climbing down Tricouni Peak in British Columbia, Canada
An avid hiker and her beloved dog are lucky to be alive after plunging 60 feet onto jagged rocks while climbing down a mountain.
Margaux Cohen had just finished summiting Tricouni Peak in British Columbia, Canada with her dog, Zion, and two friends when tragedy struck on August 24. The 36-year-old found herself off the trail and, along with her friends and dog, was forced to climb over a “little wall” to continue the descent.
As Zion made his way over the wall, the pet lost his footing and slipped off the steep edge, which resulted in Ms Cohen instinctively grabbing his harness. The pair fell a total of about 18 metres (60 feet) but miraculously survived.
Speaking to local news outlet Squamish Chief, the lucky hiker said: “I had this instinct to just grab his harness. But I did not realize that by doing this, and because of his weight, I was just going to fall.
“It wasn’t a straight fall. I tumbled down like four times. So I probably fell 20 feet, and then hit my face on the rocks, and then fell again and again and again.”
Ms Cohen, who is currently recovering in hospital with a broken leg, did not lose consciousness and when she came to a halt, she quickly realised she was still alive. To her delight, Zion was next to her wagging his tail, despite an injured paw.
“First of all, I hit my face probably three times. So my nose and the left side of my face was really swollen,” she said. “And, I could not really feel it. It was really numb…I could also feel that it was really big. I was p****** blood from my nose, and my leg – I could not find a position where it didn’t hurt because I had misplaced one of my bones.”
It took Squamish Search and Rescue two hours to reach her and she was airlifted to hospital. Ms Cohen, who is currently unable to work or walk, has since had surgery on her leg and remains in hospital in Vancouver.
“The recovery is going to be pretty long, unfortunately, because the injury – it’s not just a broken bone where I can just have a cast and then be fine,” the hiker said. “They have to put plates and screws in my leg. It is going to take a long time until I can actually have weight on my leg.
“So I’m going to need a lot of help for the first two months or so, and then I’m going to need a lot of physio. I’m looking at probably at least four months until I can do any type of physical activities”
Friend Emily Kasal has launched a fundraising page to raise funds for both Ms Cohen and Zion, who now face mounting medical bills and the prospect of not being able to work for a number of months. So far, nearly £7,000 has been raised.
On the GoFundMe page, Emily writes: “Margaux is one of the most kindhearted, adventurous, and resilient people I know. She has always been there to support others, and now she needs our help. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a huge difference for her and her furry best friend.
“Thank you so much for your love, generosity, and support during this difficult time. And a massive thank you to Squamish Search and Rescue for long-lining her to safety. Your bravery is essential and so incredibly appreciated by the outdoor community!”