This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utahn Mike Trabert was on a heli-skiing trip down a volcanic mountain in Kamchatka, Russia, when a gust of wind crashed the helicopter carrying him and his friends.

Everyone on board survived Tuesday's crash, but three people broke their necks — including Trabert, 60, according to his sister; he also broke three ribs and was taken to a hospital in Petropavlovsk, where his doctors didn't speak English.

His family is trying to get him home to Holladay and is communicating with him through a stranger who let him text his family after his phone battery died, said his sister, Brooke Trabert.

The wind tilted the helicopter sideways, said Brooke Trabert, who added that the helicopter rolled when it landed.

Mike Trabert had climbed out of the crashed helicopter before he knew anything was wrong, Brooke Trabert said.

"The doctor said it's nothing short of a miracle," she said. That University Hospital doctor, Ted Kimble, translated the Russian medical records and said Mike Trabert would need to come back to the U. hospital via medical air transport, which isn't covered under his insurance, according to Brooke Trabert.

The family set up a fundraiser, which, within 24 hours, had raised $114,000 — $4,000 more than the original goal.

A family friend, Kelly Murdock, used to work for Sen. Orrin Hatch, and got the office in touch with the U.S. embassy in Russia to expedite Mike Trabert's return, said Brooke Trabert.

Despite taking heli-ski trips nearly every year with his friend and tennis partner, Bill Wee, this was Mike Trabert's first injury related to the hobby, according to his sister. Wee and his son survived the crash unharmed and are in Russia.

"They're not leaving Mike," Brooke Trabert said.

Wee plans to accompany Mike Trabert home, said Brooke Trabert, who is optimistic that her brother will recover fully.

Twitter: @tiffany_mf