Video Story
Watch VideoHigh-angle rescue made in Garden of the Gods
Story By: Ryan Wilson
Source: KOAA
Published Wed Jan 07, 2009, 09:14 PM MST
Updated Wed Jan 07, 2009, 10:43 PM MST
Rescue crews had to battle high winds and steep cliffs to get to a young man, who fell while rock-climbing in Garden of the Gods. It happened on South Gateway Rock, a popular climbing spot.
Firefighters say the young man, who's between 17 and 18 years old, was with a friend, and started scrambling up the rock around 5 Wednesday afternoon. He apparently slipped and fell, hurting his leg seriously enough, that he needed to be rescued.
"He was very happy and numerous times, he goes thanks for coming guys," Lt. Bob Burton, of the Colorado Springs Fire Department said. Burton was one of the rescuers who climbed up to get the young man.
It took about two and half hours to get him off the rocks. He was stuck about 100 feet up from the ground and had fallen about 20.
"We had winds blowing anywhere we had 50 60 miles per hour at the top, where we were at with the patient," Lt. Burton said.
Firefighters say he didn't have any rock climbing equipment and high winds made the rescue more difficult as they had to haul him up, and then lower him back down a rock face.
"Very difficult location to get to as most of these high angle rescues are," said Medical Lt. Kriss Soppe, of the CSFD.
But it was a successful rescue, obviously a big relief for his family and friends. The young man's his mother looked very relieved to see that he was ok. And by the way, it is illegal to climb in Garden of the Gods without ropes and without registering at the visitor center.
