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malabarista
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 9, 2003 - 02:21pm PT
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I assisted indirectly in the rescue of a severely injured climber who fell while climbing "Craven Image" on the main wall of Lover's Leap yesterday 6/8. I did not see the injured climber, but my partner John reported that climber had severe head trauma, possible broken ankles, and possible spinal cord injuries. Thankfully, there were a couple people trained as wilderness first responders nearby at the time who administered first aide.
I was at camp with my girlfriend when my John, who had hiked to retrieve gear we left at the wall, radioed me with the emergency. My girlfriend and I then called 911 and were able to get the rescue personnell in direct contact with John at the scene of the accident. Rescuers were at Strawberry Lodge within minutes, but the rescue it self involved a failed attempt to use a helicopter, and finally carrying the climber out which took a couple hours. It was a good wake up call that all climbing is dangerous, -complacency and safety never hand in hand out there.
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Listen to Coiler.
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Matt
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 9, 2003 - 03:03pm PT
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Is that the "climbing is death" stuff again?
I guess he's right- some poor fella broke both heels on Saturday in Yosemite, when he fell from 15 feet w/ no gear in at the base of El Cap.
Oh- he was on Pine Line...
Seriously.
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David
Trad climber
San Rafael, CA
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I'm totally rubber necking but I think there might have also been another accident in the Valley. On Saturday morning there were two helicopters parked in the meadow and an ambulance over by ChurchBowl. Anyone know what that was about?
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Sam Shannon
Social climber
the middle of nowhere
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Big-Ass rockfall off of HD Friday evening at sunset. At least one person injured and about 6 people lucky to be alive. No casualties.
Sam
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David
Trad climber
San Rafael, CA
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Ah! I remember hearing a noise around that time while in Upper Pines. We thought it was thunder at the time but a large rock fall makes more sense.
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ricardo
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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I was at the leap yesterday .. and saw the helicopter trying to land for what was about 1 1/2 hours .. finally they managed a landing ..
.. can someone post more info about what happened in the accident? .. maybe something we can learn from..
.. we climbed corrugation corner (great fun climb) .. and then attempted to do Fandango (5.9) .. it was totally overgrown and i dont thinkn in its current state the first pitch is 5.8 .. felt more like 5.10a .. because of lichen and weeds crowding the crack .. took a small 8' fall and then switched leads ..
 ricardo
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Matt
Trad climber
SF Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 9, 2003 - 04:00pm PT
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(HD- not LL)
Broken lower leg.
What I heard was that refrigerator sized blocks spontaneously came free several hundred feet up the face, the injured party was descending from the base and I think he was injured in a run and tumble on the slope below to avoid being another headline- thank God it wasn't so.
I guess some SAR guys were near by- lucky.
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pakmat
climber
ca
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Jun 10, 2003 - 02:48am PT
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there never was a attempt at heli rescue ... he was just flying around...plus the guy got his mediflight anyway so dont call it unsuccesful
we dont know why he flew around so much but there were 2 good helispots and he landed fine
anyway
no word on patient... id say big headache.. stiff and sore.. maybe a cast maybe surgery... hopefully nothing worse.. good distal csm... whos knows.. that was then
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malabarista
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 10, 2003 - 11:16am PT
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thanks for the update on the heli, and i sincerely hope the guy is ok..
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LS
Trad climber
SF CA
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Jun 10, 2003 - 03:29pm PT
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I was the first of 2 WFRs to respond to the accident at the Leap. My partner and I were about to start up Corrugation Corner when we heard calls for help. Here's the basics:
A 30-year-old male took a 20-foot leader fall on Craven Image. Although no one witnessed the fall he appears to have impacted his entire left side. He was wearing a helmet but still sustained multiple (apparently) superficial head injuries and briefly lost consciousness. He was then lowered to the ground where he was found. His chief complaints were pain in his left shoulder and back, a bad headache, and a "torn" left Achilles. The patient exam also revealed tenderness in the cervical spine and a history of 2 other significant head injuries in the past year (a basal skull fracture and a concussion).
Although his vital signs remained stable throughout, and he had good circulation and sensation in his hands and feet, David (the other WFR) and I maintained C-spine immobilization until he could be evacuated. Fortunately, there were many people nearby who were ready and willing to offer assistance. Thanks to Brandy for notifying people in the area, to "malabarista" and company for the quick 911 call, and everyone else for pitching in. I thought it was pretty impressive teamwork for a bunch of us non-professionals.
The SAR and medics arrived with a backboard and Stokes litter surprisingly quickly considering the steepness of the approach. Although a helicopter circled overhead during most of the rescue, it was determined that there was no LZ close enough or accessible enough. Nor was the helicopter equipped to lift the patient. A gnarly carry-out to the Leap parking area was the only real option. From there he was transported by ambulance. Although I haven't heard any news since then, the medics seemed to think that he should recover quickly.
Looks like the helmet saved his life, or at least prevented a critical injury. I also had a basic first-aid kit in the top of my helmet, so I guess that's 2 more reasons to wear the Brain Bucket.
Climb hard, climb safe!
Les
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LS
Trad climber
SF CA
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Jun 10, 2003 - 03:35pm PT
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The basal skull fracture was from a leader fall in Squamish and the concussion was from a skiing accident at Squaw Valley.
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pakmat
climber
ca
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Jun 10, 2003 - 11:28pm PT
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why is this even any of anyone but the climbers business....
if im hurt i would apprieciate help.....
i wonder if there arent better things to think about besides what he "should or shouldnt" do... it reads like a bunch of egotistical busy bodies not a concerned bunch of climbing "family" community.... i might be off base but we all make mistakes and natural selection will work it out... i dont care how many stokes i have to hike to the base....
ahhhhhh oh well ....
i guess im just fired up.... i like that ppl are doing something.... climbing sking .... ive needed treatment bunch of times and i guess i like to push it ..... its a hard thing to explain....
its a route with a light rating and nonetheless should be taken seriously
i dont like being injured but for me it was part of the learning process... it doesnt seem right to discuss his choices..... live and let deck.... just be there to help... unconditionally, selflessly..
that others may live
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FREEclimber
Social climber
SF
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Jun 11, 2003 - 12:35pm PT
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The filter in action- got no problem w/ that, so long as he doesn't fall on me!
-Fc
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pakmat
climber
Joshua Tree, CA
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Old post but that was Engine 6-4 out of Kyburz that carried the litter.
I was on the engine at the time and we pushed hard to get it up there fast.
thanks for the response speed recognition..
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