Rescuers work overnight to save BC teen and his dog after fall down embankment

First responders in southeastern BC say a teen and his dog have been rescued after falling "several hundred feet" down an embankment.

A statement from the Regional District of East Kootenay says the pair suffered a "harrowing fall" near the community of Elko, and search and rescue teams worked until around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning to get them up safely.

Chief Michael Hockley with the Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire and Rescue says in the statement that the teen and his dog had fallen so far down it was beyond their crew's rope rescue capability.

He says search and rescue was dispatched out of nearby Fernie, and that team was able to get the teen and his dog up the bank.

The statement says 12 firefighters and seven search and rescue members responded to the scene along with RCMP and paramedics.

It says the young man sustained multiple non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for further assessment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2024.