Penticton, B.C. crews perform complicated rescue at Skaha Bluffs – Okanagan | 24CA News
Penticton Search and Rescue (PENSAR) efficiently accomplished an extended and complex rescue earlier this week at Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park.
PENSAR responded round 7:30 p.m. to help within the search of an overdue climber, a 55-year-old Okanagan Falls resident.
“Police were advised that [the climber] had gone climbing in the Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park and was overdue by about seven hours,” learn the PENSAR launch. “Police had located the climber’s truck in the Skaha Park parking lot and requested search and rescue support to locate the climber.”
According to PENSAR search supervisor, Ron Berlie, 18 search and rescue members have been deployed into the world at a number of entry factors. The climber was discovered at 9:30 p.m. hanging from their harness 5 metres from the highest of the cliff climbing characteristic referred to as ‘Screeching Walls’.
“It was apparent that the climber had suffered a fall sometime in the day and due to injuries was unable to extract themselves,” stated Berlie. “But fortunately, was still attached to the cliff face and in their climbing harness.”
The injured climber was present in an especially troublesome location, in line with rescue crews.
“Now that we had found the subject we were faced with the most difficult part of our operation, how to rescue the subject from cliff face and bring them out of the park,” stated Berlie. “With darkness upon [us], difficult access in dangerous canyon terrain and not knowing the severity of the climbers injuries added to the urgency and complexity of the rescue.”
The climber was present in a troublesome space, making for an extended and complex rescue.
PENSAR / Facebook
Penticton Search and Rescue at Skaha Bluffs Provincial park.
PENSAR / Facebook
Berlie added that nighttime air evacuation was not an choice on the time.
So, the search group carried in gear to start a rope rescue to convey the climber to the canyon the place they have been then assessed by medical private and packaged right into a stretcher.
For over 5 and a half hours, rescue private made a “slow methodical descent” from the world utilizing a lot of rope methods.
“Our rope team and [Ground Search and Rescue] members worked methodically, with purpose and completed the task in a safe manner,” stated Berlie. “We got the job done, team members were motivated and happy to have completed the rescue successfully. It’s what they train for, and we put all of our assets to use in challenging terrain and it all paid off.”
PENSAR needs a speedy restoration to the climber.
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