A 13-year-old boy is continuing to recover after a terrifying fall into a ravine left him stranded and injured for three days in the summer heat.

According to CBN, Dakota “Cody” Trenkle, Jr., plunged 240 feet into a Missouri ravine after an accident on his skateboard, endured nearly 80 hours alone without food or water, and is now showing signs of recovery after spending 11 days in a medically induced coma.

The incident occurred on July 27 near Goose Creek Lake when Cody lost his balance and fell off his skateboard. He dropped an estimated 240 feet into a secluded ravine and landed in a shallow pool of water. Temperatures soared, and for three days, the teen lay injured and exposed without access to food or hydration.

It wasn’t until July 30 that his family and rescue teams located him. His younger brother discovered Cody’s abandoned skateboard near the edge of the ravine, and a scent-tracking K-9 named Daryl from the Farmington Correctional Center helped direct authorities to the area where Cody was last believed to be.

Rescue teams managed to find Cody lying in about a foot of water. He had sustained severe injuries, including brain bleeding and wounds caused by prolonged exposure to the elements. He had also developed pneumonia during the time he was stranded.

Critical injuries led to an airlift and an ICU stay

After being discovered, Cody was flown to St. Louis for emergency care. He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, where doctors placed him on a ventilator and kept him sedated for a week. Due to the extent of his injuries, he was kept in a medically induced coma for a total of 11 days.

Cody’s mother, Stephanie Neely, stayed by her son’s side throughout the ordeal. She described the moment he started to show signs of waking as life-changing. “I cried,” she said. “I started bawling.… I could finally take a deep breath and finally got some sleep that night.”

On what was likely August 8, doctors noticed Cody exhibiting small signs of awareness. By the next day, he was alert enough to respond to his mother using sign language. “When I asked him if he knew this was Mommy, he nodded yes,” said Neely. “That moment was forever monumental for me.”

First request signals return to normalcy

After waking, one of the first things Cody asked for was a Coke from McDonald’s. His mother said they were happy to fulfill his request, even if it meant waiting an hour. “He got his Coke,” she confirmed with a relieved laugh.

Neely said that this wasn’t Cody’s first major health battle. He was born prematurely and has had to overcome several medical complications throughout his life. His early experiences, she believes, helped prepare him both mentally and physically for this latest fight.

“He fought for his life then, and now, almost 14 years later, he’s doing it again,” she said. “He’s still proving to everyone, ‘I’m fighting, I’m still here, I can survive.’”

Recovery is expected to take time

Doctors have told the family that Cody’s healing process will be a long one. While his progress so far has been positive, he will still need time and support to fully recover from his injuries and the trauma of the experience.

Despite that, his family remains optimistic. Neely explained that Cody’s “resilient and stubborn” nature has played a major role in how far he has come already. She is hopeful that with time, therapy, and care, he will continue to make significant gains.

“We’re on the right path now,” she said, asking the community to “keep their thoughts and prayers with him.” She called her son’s survival nothing short of remarkable. “He’s a miracle.”