Arizona Woman Rescued After 400-Foot Fall at Edge of the World Near Sedona
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Janelle Banda, 32, of the Phoenix area, survived a harrowing 400-foot fall in a remote canyon near Sedona, Arizona, spending two-and-a-half days stranded in rugged terrain known ominously as the “Edge of the World.” The incident occurred during a camping trip with her father and ended with a dramatic helicopter rescue by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department on June 16.
The area, located near the southern end of Woody Mountain Road, is infamous for its steep cliffs and dense forests. Banda had gone for a walk on the evening of June 13 when she reportedly became disoriented in the dark woods and possibly startled by something. A misstep led her to plummet into a narrow canyon, where she remained hidden from sight for days.
Her sister, Sarah Banda, 29, described the ordeal as “nothing short of a miracle.” The family, who had been camping since around June 11, had nearly lost hope by the third day. “We were very much mentally preparing for the worst,” Sarah said. The eventual news of Janelle’s survival brought “an overwhelming amount of relief and joy.”
Janelle, an Arizona State University graduate and Etsy store owner, was camping in the region for the first time, although she and her sister had frequently hiked throughout Arizona, including at Camelback Mountain and Sedona’s trails. Her fall occurred just a short distance from the campsite, highlighting the deceptive dangers of the Edge of the World.
Search efforts involved multiple agencies, including sheriff’s departments from Coconino, Maricopa, and Yavapai counties, as well as the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Janelle’s father and another camper initiated the initial search and quickly alerted authorities.
Despite the severity of the fall, Janelle miraculously avoided life-threatening injuries. She suffered two sprained ankles, cuts, bruises, road-rash-type abrasions, and severe dehydration. She was hospitalized overnight on June 16 and released the following day.
“She can’t really move. She’s in a lot of pain,” Sarah said, adding that Janelle’s physical recovery will require significant rest and limited movement under their parents’ care.
Beyond physical healing, Janelle faces emotional and psychological recovery. “There’s obviously the mental toll—the trauma of not just falling but being in the canyon alone,” Sarah said. “That’s a different battle she’ll have to deal with.”
The family expressed deep gratitude to the search teams and volunteers who dedicated hundreds of hours to the rescue effort.
Comments