An 18-year-old SIUC student is responsive to hospital staff and remains in critical condition after a 35-foot fall Saturday from Devil’s Stand Table in Giant City Park, according the victim’s mother.

Leah K. Reichert, of Belleville, was walking on a trail with her roommate Shana K. Gleason, of Auburn, and friends Eric A. Putnam, of Chatham and Sarah J. Pittman, both of Springfield. Gleason said Reichert lost her balance and fell after climbing over a rock.

Reichert landed on a ledge about 25 feet off of the ground that was only big enough to allow one person to attend to her.

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Leah’s mother Kathleen Reichert said Leah sustained a two-inch laceration on the back of her head, swelling on the brain and a fractured vertebrae in the middle of her back.

Help was called to scene at about 4:30 p.m. when Putnam flagged down a passerby who had a cellular phone and called 911.

A Jackson County ambulance was first on the scene. In order to reach Leah, ambulance personnel had to rappel down the cliff she fell off of.

Makanda Township Fire Department was called for rescue assistance because the incident occurred in their jurisdiction, but the Carbondale Fire Department was called because Makanda did not have the equipment to make the rescue.

“The ambulance personnel attended to her injuries,” Carbondale Fire Capt. John Michalesko said. “We only provided the means to get her off the bluff and down to the ground.”

Michalesko said once on the ground, Reichert was put into the ambulance and taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where she was then flown by helicopter to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She remains there in the intensive care unit, hospital officials said.

“We’re very optimistic for her,” Reichert said. “We’re very thankful that things have gone the way that they have.”

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Reichert said Leah is breathing on her own and able to respond to doctor’s command. She also said doctors do not anticipate any long-term loss of senses or paralysis.

Reichert said the doctors expect Leah will need therapy and she may be somewhat dyslexic because of the head injury. That is normal for the type of injury sustained.

Leah is not described as being in a coma, but her mother said that she is “more or less just sleeping.” She said the doctors said this is also common with head injuries.

Reichert said that Leah was very healthy, which may be why she is doing so well. She worked out at the Recreation Center and worked at the Recreation Center Friday nights helping with children’s arts and crafts.

“We’re very grateful for all the help [Leah] has gotten, the care she’s receiving now and the quick response,” Reichert said.