A rock climber who fell hundreds of feet descending a steep gully in Washington’s North Cascades mountains survived the fall that killed his three companions, hiked to his car in the dark and then drove to a pay phone to call for help,

Three rock climbers fell to their deaths Sunday in Washington state, authorities said. Investigators believe their equipment failed as they were descending a ravine.

Three people have died, and one person survived after a rock-climbing accident in Washington on Sunday. Four climbers fell while descending from a steep gully, according to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office. Our sister station, KIRO TV in Seattle, said it happened in the area of North Early Winters Spire.

Authorities said the cause of the fall is believed to be anchor failure while the climbers rappelled a steep gulley.

Many details about what led up to the fall still aren’t known, said Cristina Woodworth, who leads the sheriff’s search and rescue team. But all four climbers appeared to be tied to the same piton when it failed.

A group of four climbers suffered a fall reportedly due to 'an anchor failure' while descending a steep gully in the North Early Winters Spire area of North Cascades National Park at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday,

The man, suffering from internal bleeding and head trauma, not only survived the 400-foot fall but was able to trek to his car, in the dark, and drive to a pay phone to call for help.