Chilliwack – Chilliwack Search and Rescue (CSAR) says their nine hour rescue on Saturday night on Mount Rexford was nothing short of a miracle.
CSAR Manager Doug Fraser says the call came in around before 8PM.
Video clip of the summit pyramid on Mt Rexford where we spotted the 2 climbers #BCSAR pic.twitter.com/b5DIxgSfhY
— Chilliwack SAR (@ChilliwackSAR) August 7, 2016
A 40-year-old man and his 15-year-old nephew were climbing in the afternoon, when horror struck.
The uncle fell 70 feet and landed on a two foot ledge which was the only thing that held him back from dropping another 1,500 feet.
Two nearby climbers saw the fall and told the nephew they would call for help.
But in order to do that, they had to climb down themselves and drive several hours until they had cell service.
Chilliwack SAR’s helicopter arrived some 40 minutes after the accident.
Four SAR members were dropped off on a ridge line to perform a long line rescue with the aid of a 422 Cormorant had to be called out of Comox to perform the rescue.
Add to the drama – lighting was spotted in the area.
The uncle was taken to Chilliwack General Hospital with a broken ankle, cuts and bruises.