Fallen climber rescued by Penticton SAR

PENTICTON – A rock climber who fell about six metres at Skaha Bluffs Friday evening was quickly rescued with the help of Penticton Search and Rescue members.

The initial call came in just after 8 p.m on Friday, March 27. B.C. Ambulance was first on scene at Skaha Bluffs just southwest of Penticton and soon after the local search and rescue unit was dispatched to the area of the bluffs known as the Seven Dwarfs as well. A total of 17 members, two rescue trucks, two all-terrain vehicles and a rope rescue team leader based with Osoyoos-Oliver Search and Rescue attended.

The man was reported to have suffered an injured back in the incident. An advance team consisting of four members found the 24-year-old male in stable condition. However he had suffered a number of undetermined injuries. The initial team treated the victim while the main team hiked in. The victim was taken out of the area on stretcher and transferred to the SAR medi-vac ATV at approximately 10:15 p.m.

The man was subsequently transferred to a B.C. Ambulance team and transported to Penticton Regional Hospital for treatment.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.