Two rope rescues Sunday bring 2016 total to highest in 10 years

Dozens of Hamilton firefighters responded to calls for help at waterfalls on Sunday, bringing the 2016 number of rope rescues to 22 — the highest in at least the last 10 years.

And there are still three months to go in the year.

Both people requiring assistance suffered ankle injuries and weren't able to walk out from the waterfalls, said Hamilton fire spokesman Claudio Mostacci. 

The first rope rescue happened Sunday afternoon at Webster's Falls. Crews responded around 4:30 p.m. and found two people approximately 20 metres down from the ledge. One woman had slipped and fallen and suffered an ankle injury, Mostacci said.

The department sent 22 firefighters to help. The woman was packaged and carried out of the area. 

The other rescue happened at Buttermilk Falls, north of Albion Falls. Firefighters showed up around 8:30 p.m. to respond to reports of two people at the bottom of the falls, after a woman had injured her ankle. It was unclear whether she fell or twisted it, he said.

The person she was with walked out on his own, Mostacci said. 

There were 22 firefighters called to that scene, too, and they wrapped up the rescue by about 11 p.m.

While the fire department originally said it would not charge for rescues, officials now say they are looking at charging a user fee, brought on by "increased attention" and "some community sentiment." 

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