Hiker plunges 40 feet into icy crevasse before recording goodbye message to his parents... but survives after clawing his way out to walk for help with a broken back



Ted Porter, 36 , lost control on a glacier while hiking alone in Montana

last month

He managed to claw his way up icy walls with broken vertebrae and walk to find help



A hiker has described the terrifying moment that he believed he would die alone at the bottom of an icy crevasse after plummeting 40 feet into a glacier and breaking his back.

Ted Porter, 36, plunged 40-feet after losing his grip and sliding down a glacier on a solo hike in Montana's Glacier National Park last month.



Mr Porter, from Los Angeles, was forced to record a message on his phone which he believed would be his last words to his parents.

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Survivor: Ted Porter, 36, survived a 40-foot fall down a glacier in Montana's Glacier National Park

Close call: Mr Porter, 36, (pictured with his girlfriend Jessica James Reynolds) managed to crawl out of an icy crevasse last month with a broken back. Doctors say he came within millimeters of being paralyzed

'Mom and Dad, I fell in a crevasse,' he says breathlessly before wailing in pain. 'You guys if I don't make it out, I love you. I'm not kidding. This is no joke.'

After recording the heartbreaking message, Mr Porter made the decision that he was not going to die alone in the wilderness.



He told ABC : ' After I said that, I just had this urge. I was not going to die down there.'

Despite having broken several vertebrae in his back, Mr Porter found the strength to claw his way out of the crevasse before trudging four miles in terrible pain to find help.

He came across campers who cared for him through the night until he could be rescued by helicopter.



Mr Porter, a voice-over artist from LA, is an experienced climber and decided to set out alone on September 3 during a week-long trip with his parents.



He was hiking across one of the park's largest glaciers when he realized that he was in deep trouble as it began to rain and the ground conditions grew slippery.

Alone in the wilderness: Mr Porter took this image while he lay at the bottom of the crevasse believing that he was going to die

Terror: Mr Porter took this image on his cellphone while lying at the bottom of the 40-foot crevasse

No way back: Mr Porter is a seasoned hiker who found himself in danger in the Montana wilderness

Slow steps: Mr Porter has now left the Montana hospital and is recovering with his family in California

He failed to put on his crampons and ice sacks, a grievous error which almost cost him his life.

He began to slide down the glacier and with horror noticed that a huge crevasse was opening up below. He plunged into the hole and landed deep below in the darkness.



The 36-year-old pulled himself up the 40-foot drop using crampons and an ice axe.



Mr Porter was emotional today when he thanked the campers who had helped him survive the night.

However he brushed off his own bravery, saying: ' ... I just crawled out of a crevasse. It's not a big deal.'

He has since had three surgeries and is currently undergoing rehabilitation while recovering with his family and girlfriend in California. Doctors say he came within millimeters of being paralyzed.



A fund has been set up to help pay for his medical bills here .

