Hamilton

Firefighters do fourth rescue in 2 months at Albion Falls

The fourth person in eight weeks has required a rope rescue from local firefighters after getting stuck at Albion Falls.

Pre-teen fell more than 30 feet onto rocks earlier this month

Hamilton firefighters have rescued four people in eight weeks from Albion Falls. (Sheryl Nadler)

The fourth person in eight weeks has required a rope rescue from local firefighters after getting stuck at Albion Falls.

Around 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, a man was walking near the falls and realized he couldn't safely climb up or down, said Claudio Mostacci, spokesperson for Hamilton's fire department. The man used his cell phone to call for help.

As many as 20 firefighters responded. Rope rescues, said Mostacci, are "very labour intensive."

A group of firefighters anchored themselves on higher ground and two were lowered to where the man was, he said. They assessed the man and lifted him to safety in a basket. The man was shaked but uninjured.

This is the fourth time in less than two months that firefighters have rescued people from Albion Falls, Mostacci said. In one case, someone got stuck while trying to get the right angle to take a picture.

"It is very picturesque and people like going down there," Mostacci said. "The problem is you have to have knowledge of going up and down, and you have to have the proper footwear."

A preteen boy was taken to hospital in critical condition on Aug. 10 after falling at Albion Falls.

He was walking on a landing near the falls and fell 30 to 40 feet onto rocks at the base of the falls, Mostacci said.