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Man survives 40 foot fall from Castle Rock cliff

John Arsenault, 66, fell at Castlewood Canyon
Posted at 9:41 PM, Oct 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-23 23:42:42-04

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. --A man fell forty feet off a cliff at Castlewood Canyon on Saturday and survived.

John Arsenault, 66, family said the accident happened while he and his nephew were on their way down from climbing to the top of a seventy-foot cliff to take photos.

"Seen this big rock sticking out, we're like 'oh man' we have to go up there and go get a picture," said his nephew Dustin Hake-Thailing.

Behind the camera was his youngest daughter Kayle Arsenault-Lynne.

"I had a feeling something was going to happen," she said. "When I saw my dad, on the ground - I was like 'oh crap' I'm not going to be able to say I'm sorry or I love you."

Hake-Thailing said his uncle jumped down a three-foot ledge, landed with his feet crossed and lost his balance.

"He took a dive right off the cliff," he said. "At that moment you feel totally helpless, there's nothing you can do."

Hake-Thailing took cell phone video of paramedics carrying Arsenault out of the canyon on a stretcher.

Arsenault broke multiple bones and will now require surgery on his pelvic bone.

He lives in Florida and was visiting his family, and new his grandchild in Aurora when the accident happened.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his medical costs. Click here if you would like to donate.