Georgia couple finds love after falling from waterfall, sustaining critical injuries on first date

A Georgia couple nearly lost their lives while on their first date after they slipped off a waterfall while on a hike. 

Jordan Bennett and Zania Robinson were hiking DeSoto Falls in Georgia when they ended up caught in a storm in August. 

The couple fell from the top of the waterfall, approximately 120 feet, and were forced to hike 30 minutes while injured, Robinson with extensive wounds on her face and Bennett with two fractured shoulders. 

The couple was able to recover by each other's side and have since developed a strong relationship and say they are forever bonded. 

Shockingly, the fall also may have saved Bennett's life as doctors discovered stomach cancer as he was recovering, which he is now receiving treatment for.  

Jordan Bennett and Zania Robinson were hiking DeSoto Falls in Georgia when they ended up caught in a storm in August and fell from a waterfall

The couple was able to recover by each other's side and have since developed a strong relationship and say they are forever bonded

According to Bennet and Robinson, the terrifying first date has now put them on the path to lasting love. 

The pair spoke with WXIA and described the life-altering event. 

'We took pictures, had our first kiss up there. It was a moment,' said Robinson.

After they kissed, however, things turned messy as the storm moved in and they began to slip. 

'Without hesitation, it was just like, go get her. Instinct,' said Bennett.

The couple fell and were seriously injured. Far from civilization, they were forced to hike 30 minutes back to get help.  

'I kept telling her, repeat after me. "You're brave, you're strong, you've got this,"' said Bennett, recalling the fateful day. 

Eventually, they were able to reach the emergency room and were rushed in for their injuries. 

Robinson's extensive facial injuries caused her to worry that Bennett would no longer be interested in her. 

'I felt ugly. I didn't like what I looked like anymore. I didn't think he would like me,' said Robinson.

That could not have been further from what happened, though, as he immediately asked her to be his girlfriend when they were able to see each other again.  

'She said, "how do I look?" I said, "You look beautiful." Just seeing her that way, it built a bond that won't ever be broken,' said Jordan.

Robinson was in critical condition when they got to the hospital and had extensive injuries to her face 

Bennett fractured both of his shoulders in the major fall from the waterfall

Robinson's facial injuries caused her to worry that Bennett would no longer be interested in her, but he asked her to be his girlfriend when they were able to see each other again

The couple is now forever 

But as Robinson improved from her injuries, Bennett continued to get worse. 

The man's mother, Lori Chafin, told WXIA her son was seeing no progress at all. 

'He had lost a lot of weight, it was falling off of him. He didn't have much of an appetite,' said Chafin.

Doctors thought Bennett may have ruptured his esophagus in the fall but the news was much worse. 

'The call came in -- they diagnosed it with advanced stage 3 stomach cancer,' said Bennett.

Despite the diagnosis, the Georgia man said he believes it was the fall itself that is responsible for helping him catch the cancer.

His family, and Robinson, are now sticking by his side through the battle.  

'It's your baby, of course it's hard. I can't help him. I can be there and help with everything else, but I can't take it from him. And that is hard,' said Chafin.

'I remember Jordan saying, "you're strong, you're brave, and you got this." And that really stuck with me,' said Robinson, telling the local outlet they now use the words as their own person mantra. 

Robinson and Bennett are now committed to fighting the new challenge, a stomach cancer diagnosis for Bennett, together 

Despite the cancer  diagnosis, the Bennett said he believes it was the fall itself that is responsible for helping him catch the cancer

Bennett's mom, Lori Chafin, has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for his hospital bills and other expenses related to the cancer diagnosis and the fall 

'She does say it all the time, that I'm strong, and I got this. This is your fight,' he said.

Bennett will undergo surgery to remove his stomach in March and doctors will attach his esophagus to his small intestine. 

He will be on a feeding tube for the next six to eight months but he is ready to fight with Robinson by his side. 

GoFundMe pages for Bennett and Robinson respectively have been started.