(CNN) A runner crawled for nearly eight hours to find help after injuring his leg in a national park in Washington, authorities said.

"Carrying a charged cell phone and displaying incredible grit and determination to self-rescue likely prevented more serious injury in this case," Jefferson County Search and Rescue said in a statement posted on Facebook

Around 5 p.m. Friday, the runner was injured on the Duckabush River Trail in the Olympic National Park, Washington, according to the release. He was about 10 miles from the trailhead and his cell phone did not have a signal so he couldn't call for help.

"I wasn't counting on my phone ever working I just figured this is my only chance I'm going to crawl all the way there," Joseph Oldendorf told CNN affiliate KIRO. Oldendorf said his tibia became detached, keeping him on his hands and knees. Crawling on the trail made his knees so raw, he said he put his shoes over them for a level of protection.

Temperatures were below freezing, and he was wearing only light running clothes as he crawled for several miles, the release said. At 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, he realized his phone had a signal because he received a text message.

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