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Woman thanks rescuers for saving her life

Posted at 2:59 PM, Sep 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-05 17:59:03-04

A special thank you to the Pima County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team.
A Tucson woman rescued after falling down Tanque Verde Falls in August of 2017, met with her heroes to thank them for saving her life.

Kirsten Gromer was hiking up Remington Pass with her oldest son who she says is a daredevil. Then he jumped off a cliff, warning his mom not to do it.
 
"I wanted to see what he had to clear, so I walked up to look over the edge at what he had to clear, and the rock below my feet gave way and down I went," said Gromer.

Gromer feared nobody could help her. As she was going into shock, a nurse named Alicia jumped into the water.

"I remember telling my husband I can't; I can't do this anymore. I think right about then we saw the search and rescue team's helicopter, " said Gromer.

Brian Boll with Pima County Sheriff Departments Search and Rescue Team was lowered 45 feet to Gromer.

"When I got to Kirsten she was in a lot of pain.  She had a pretty significant injury to her left leg.  She had an open fracture.  It was probably the worst injuries I've had to deal with, " said Boll.

"The challenges are that Tanque Verde is a very tight canyon and a lot of times, It'll accelerate the winds through that canyon, the narrowness of it, " said Milt Kennedy, Sheriff One Pilot.

"I believe that God placed these men there that day.  They are my heroes," said Gromer.

Seven surgeries later, Gromer is doing much better.