Shrubs helped save climber who fell off East Lion, rescuers say

A climber who fell off a steep peak in the mountains just north of Vancouver is lucky to be alive, according to North Shore Rescue, after shrubs helped break his fall on the treacherous and rocky slope on Monday.

According to NSR, the unhelmeted man had been solo scrambling on the East Lion peak when he fell many metres, knocking himself unconscious. Scrambling refers to climbing without ropes or protection.

When the man came to, he realized he had somehow landed on a narrow ledge behind some shrubs.

"He was very lucky not to have fallen a whole lot farther. I'm not quite sure how we managed to even stop where he was," said NSR search manager Dave Barnett.

"He had significant injuries to his back, ribs, head, and had actually been unconscious for, we think, 30 minutes before he was able to get a distress call out."

Video and photos posted by NSR show just how precarious the vertical terrain rescue performed by NSR technicians and Talon Helicopters really was.

Barnett says it ranks as one of the most difficult missions in recent memory. 

"This was at least a nine out of 10," he said. "Definitely one of the most technical aerial rescues we've done."

Barnett said a first rescue technician was lowered from the helicopter to a few meters above the injured man. There, the technician set an anchor and then rappelled down to where the man was lying.

A second rescue technician, who is also an emergency room physician, was then "winched in" to provide medical care and secure the man in a specialized stretcher called an ARP, or aerial rescue platform.

"The technical part here was at all times, both technicians and the injured man, as well as the ARP, had to be constantly secured to the slope with a series of rope anchors. Then the two of them, after they treated and packaged the man, had to lower him into the ARP through a series of transferring anchor systems," said Barnett.

The man was flown to the Capilano Gate Search and Rescue station and transferred to a crew from B.C. Ambulance. He was taken to hospital in stable condition, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services.

Barnett said people should use the buddy system and be well equipped heading into potentially dangerous terrain like the East Lion. 

"Even if you think it's a scramble, it's a good idea to have some rope systems, anchors and know how to use it," he said. "Solo activities like this are very dangerous. This fellow was very fortunate. He regained consciousness and got a message out.

The rescue mission was a co-ordinated effort between Lions Bay Search and Rescue and NSR, according to Barnett.