Injured Climber Rescued 600 Feet Off the Ground

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A weekend climb outside Las Vegas turned into a seven-hour rescue epic after a man plummeted an estimated 40 to 50 feet off a canyon wall, suffering serious head and back injuries. Rescuers had to rappel hundreds of feet down to reach the injured climber, who was stranded roughly 600 feet up the wall. After stabilizing him, the team lowered him to the canyon floor and carried him across rough terrain to a waiting transport.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers of rock climbing and the importance of proper safety gear, as the climber's destroyed helmet likely saved his life. It also showcases the skill and bravery of the rescue team in executing a complex and dangerous operation to reach and evacuate the injured climber from a remote and treacherous location.

The details

The climber was ascending "Dream Safari," a multi-pitch route on Dark Shadows Wall in Pine Creek Canyon, when he fell from the second pitch around midday Saturday. His partner and a nearby guide reached him first and worked to slow the bleeding while calling for help. Because the man was stranded roughly 600 feet up the wall, rescuers couldn't reach him from the ground. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Search and Rescue and a Lead Climb volunteer were flown in by helicopter, then rappelled hundreds of feet down to his position. After stabilizing him and strapping him into a titanium litter, the team lowered him hundreds of feet to the canyon floor, then carried him across rough desert terrain to a waiting transport.

• The incident occurred on Saturday around midday.
• The rescue operation lasted approximately seven hours.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The department is investigating the cause of the fall and the equipment failure that led to the climber plummeting a much greater distance than expected.