Arizona Man Survives 700-Foot Fall on Oregon’s Mount Hood: ‘I'm Some Kind of Miracle’

On Saturday, July 6, 55-year-old Chris Zwierzynski was continuing his ongoing quest to climb the highest points in every state following his 50th birthday

An Arizona man recently survived the unthinkable after he fell 700 feet from a mountain and lived to retell the frightening ordeal.

On Saturday, July 6, 55-year-old Chris Zwierzynski was continuing his ongoing quest to climb the highest points in every state following his 50th birthday – but as he climbed Oregon’s Mount Hood, he fell a shocking 700 feet and sustained serious injuries requiring him to be airlifted to a local hospital by the Oregon National Guard, according to local NBC affiliate KPNX.

Zwierzynski sustained broken ribs, a broken ankle and other extreme injuries. "His eyes were swollen shut. [His] eye sockets were broken," his wife Laurie Zwierzynski told the outlet. "His nose was broken in two places. He had two brain bleeds and a concussion," she continued.

“Most of the doctors that I talk to, my friends, my family, everyone's using the word miracle like I'm some kind of miracle for having survived this fall," Zwierzynski told KPNX. "Maybe I am."

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with Zwierzynski’s medical expenses, with close to $9,000 raised so far as of the time of publication, exceeding the initial $5,000 goal.

Related: Climber Recalls Watching Friend Fall Down Mountain and Thinking, 'He's Going to Die'

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In a statement regarding the incident shared with PEOPLE from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, at around 7:45 a.m. local time, Zwierzynski “slipped on the Old Chute route on Mt. Hood" and fell. In addition to confirming that the “snow surface was frozen,” authorities also described the conditions of the mountain, saying it “is a very steep climbing route, high on the mountain's south side, located at around 11,200' elevation.”

Related: Mountaineer Has Leg Amputated After Fall at 20,000 Feet on Highest Mountain in Americas

“Off-duty military medics witnessed his fall and descended to help. Two Mt. Hood National Forest climbing rangers also were in the area, and provided first aid to the injured climber,” the statement continued.

Per AZFamily, following his fall, Zwierzynski’s family released a statement thanking those who came quickly to his aid.

“The Zwierzynski family is beyond grateful. Chris was so blessed to have people there when the fall happened. The swiftness of aid was a Godsend. We are so thankful to the other hikers, the rangers, the rescue teams and the Hospital staff. They are true angels,” the statement said.

While many would likely swear off mountain climbing for good, Zwierzynski said that despite his many injuries, he plans to tackle it again in the future.

"I'll probably contact one of the guides and have them go with me, just so I don't tempt fate," he told KPNX. "But I think it definitely is doable."

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