Colorado Springs firefighters carried out a technical high-angle rescue Monday afternoon after a climber fell roughly 30 feet in North Cheyenne Cañon, leaving him critically injured more than 400 feet above the road.
According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, the call came in at 2:17pm on March 30th. Crews hiked steep terrain to reach the patient, then immediately began treating his injuries while constructing a complex rope system to bring him down the mountainside. Specialized high-angle and heavy rescue teams worked alongside Tower 1 for nearly three hours, carefully lowering the climber in a rescue basket through difficult terrain.
A department drone team flew overhead throughout the operation, helping guide rescuers along the safest descent route. Whole blood was staged at the base of the mountain as a precaution. UCHealth LifeLine ultimately transported the climber to a local hospital.
Investigators later determined the climber lost his grip while attempting to secure himself, his gear failed, and he was not wearing a helmet. His climbing partner, unable to reach emergency services directly, found someone nearby to call 911 and then guided rescue crews to the exact location, a move that saved critical time.
“Our high-angle teams train for exactly this environment, and their skill made a difficult rescue possible.” – Colorado Springs Fire Department said in a statement.
The department urged anyone heading into the area’s trails and climbing zones to wear proper protective equipment, carry a fully charged phone, share their plans with someone before heading out, and avoid hiking or climbing alone.
