Missouri: 13-Year-Old Wakes From Coma 11 Days After Ravine Rescue

Missouri 13-Year-Old Wakes From Coma 11 Days After Ravine Rescue

February 22, 2026
By Sherry Phipps

A 13-year-old Missouri boy who survived an estimated 240-foot fall into a ravine and spent more than a week in a medically induced coma has woken up and begun communicating with his family, marking a major turning point in a case that first gripped his community as a missing child search. The teen, identified as Cody Trenkle of St. Francois County, was rescued after disappearing for days without food or water and is now alert, speaking with loved ones, and starting the long process of recovery and rehabilitation.

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A Search that Turned into a Rescue

Cody went missing on July 27, 2025, prompting an intensive, multi-day search effort in St. Francois County, Missouri. Authorities and volunteers combed rugged terrain until a search dog located him at the bottom of a ravine, where he had reportedly lain for roughly three days with no access to food or water.​

Rescue crews airlifted Cody to a hospital in St. Louis in critical condition, where doctors documented skull fractures, brain bleeding, lacerations, and other serious injuries consistent with a high-impact fall and prolonged exposure. His mother, Stephanie Neely, has said publicly that she never left his bedside once he was found, describing the days that followed as “the longest 11 days” of her life.​

Eleven Days in a Medically Induced Coma

Because of the severity of Cody’s brain injuries and overall trauma, clinicians placed him in a medically induced coma, a controlled intervention used to protect the brain and allow the body to stabilize after life-threatening events. During this period, machines kept him alive while his care team monitored for complications such as swelling, infection, and pneumonia, which are common risks after prolonged immobilization and exposure.​

His family waited at his bedside, looking for any sign that he might be able to wake up and recognize them. When Cody finally emerged from the coma roughly 11 days after his rescue, he was able to respond to simple commands and communicate with his hands, giving his mother the first concrete sign that he was still present and fighting.​

A Long Road of Rehabilitation Ahead

Although Cody is now awake and described as alert, he remains in intensive care and faces a lengthy course of physical and occupational therapy to address the impact of his brain injury and other trauma-related complications. His mother has noted that he is working with therapists to assess how his injuries have affected his brain and to support his gradual return to movement, communication, and daily tasks.​

Follow-up coverage from local outlets has shown Cody later walking out of a pediatric rehabilitation hospital about a month after his rescue, smiling and embracing his mother as he headed home. Even as the family celebrates that milestone, they have acknowledged that healing from such a severe fall is an ongoing process that may involve long-term medical follow-up, therapy, and educational support.​

Questions About What Happened

Cody’s case is not only a medical story but also the subject of an ongoing law enforcement investigation. At the time of his discovery, local authorities said there was no immediate indication of foul play in how he ended up at the bottom of the ravine, but investigators also noted that they were eager to speak with him once he was well enough to explain what he remembered.​

His mother has publicly suggested that “things are not as they seemed,” while emphasizing that she cannot discuss details because detectives must be involved in any conversations about the circumstances of his fall and disappearance. As of the latest public reports, the sheriff’s office has not released further information, leaving many questions open as Cody’s recovery progresses.​​

Community, Survival, and the Need for Support

For residents of St. Francois County and the broader St. Louis region, Cody’s survival after days in a ravine and weeks in critical care has come to represent both the power of coordinated search-and-rescue efforts and the resilience of a young person facing life-threatening odds. Community members have followed his story through local news and social media updates, with many offering messages of support and contributing to efforts aimed at helping with medical and rehabilitation costs.

Stories like Cody’s also highlight the importance of accessible, long-term rehabilitation services for children and teens recovering from traumatic brain injuries, including consistent therapy, educational accommodations, and family support. As his mother focuses on “continued healing,” Cody’s case underscores how survival after a medical crisis is only the beginning of a longer journey to rebuild movement, memory, and everyday life.​

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