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He then crawled for nearly seven hours when his phone received a text, signaling he'd reached a spot where he had cellphone service.

Olendorf tried dialing 911 three times before the call went through and then continued to crawl for another four hours before he saw the flashing lights from a rescue crew, he said, describing the sight as the \"biggest relief\" he's ever felt.

He was located around 4 a.m. Sunday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The search and rescue crew covered Olendorf with blankets and hot packs to prevent hypothermia and got him to a spot where a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter could land so he could be airlifted to the hospital, according to KOMO.

\"PHOTO:
U.S. Coast Guard
PHOTO: A 26-year-old trail runner was rescued from Olympic National Park, Wash., Feb. 22, 2020, after he crawled for more than 10 hours with a broken leg.
>

\"We like to train for high-altitude rescues because of the mountainous region we operate in,\" Lt. Cmdr. Sam Hill, MH-65 pilot, said in a statement. \"Because of that training, we were able to overcome numerous environmental challenges to rescue the hiker from a dangerous situation. We thank Jefferson County Search and Rescue for their help locating the hiker and assisting with the hoist.\"

Once he arrived at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, surgeons placed a rod into his tibia and a plate and screws into his fibula. The skin on his knees were also raw from the hours of crawling.

Olendorf's rescuers told KOMO his grit and determination likely prevented him from sustaining more serious injuries. He is thankful to be alive, he said.

He was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon in a splint, and it will take about 12 weeks for his leg to fully recover.

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