From the NPS Morning Report
Zion National Park (UT)
Rangers Conduct Two Simultaneous Rescues
Over a span of ten minutes on the afternoon of October 10th, the park received reports of two visitors requiring evacuation by means of technical rope rescues from two separate locations.
A 35-year-old canyoneer in Pine Creek Canyon had jumped five feet into a pool of water. He thought that the pool was deep enough to cushion his landing, but landed on a ledge hidden just below the surface. He broke his fibula and was unable to bear any weight on his injured leg.
Ranger/Medic Matthew Chuvarsky rappelled through the canyoneering route to the man’s location. The Canyon Overlook Trail follows the rim of Pine Creek Canyon; rangers set up a lowering system to lower a litter and attendant from the trail to the man’s location, then raised him and two attendants 350 feet back to the trail.
The second injury occurred in Hidden Canyon, where a 51-year-old woman jumped a short distance while she was down climbing an obstacle. She also suffered from a broken fibula.
Evacuation of a victim from Hidden Canyon requires the construction of a 400-foot-high line to bypass a section of the trail carved into a cliff face. Ranger/Medic Matthew McCarthy hiked to the woman’s location and explained the challenges of a litter evacuation to her. She decided to attempt to hobble out of the canyon with assistance from crutches and rangers and was able to complete the task. A litter team met her just past the cliff face and carried her to the trailhead.
Twenty-five SAR team members assisted during the two incidents. Jumping, as opposed to using a rope or down climbing, is the leading cause of preventable injuries in the Zion Wilderness.
[Submitted by Ray O’Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
Shawn Kimble
Leg is much better, thanks! Fortunately it was a clean break straight through and didn’t require surgery. It was a painful lesson of how not to enter into a pool.
Rapterman
Thanks for posting Shawn!
How is your leg?
Shawn Kimble
I am the one who was rescued that day from Pine creek and I can’t say Thank You enough to the Zion SAR team for their efforts in getting me out safely. It was truly remarkable to witness the expert level of professionalism and compassion everyone showed while taking care of me. To the best of my knowledge there were at least 13 rangers that assisted in my rescue and although I don’t know most of their names, I am so grateful for everything they did for me. I experienced the best of people while injured in Pine Creek, not only from the Zion SAR Team, but from other canyoneers as well who gave me emergency blankets, food and showed overall concern for me. From the trained wilderness first responder and his group, to the ski patroller who wouldn’t leave me until the rescue team arrived and the off duty Dr. who herd about my injury and came to the parking lot to do a clinical evaluation of my condition while I was being loaded into the ambulance. One Ranger in particular, Ranger Matthew Chuvarsky, was the first to reach my location and he is without a doubt one of the most incredible people I have ever had the opportunity to meet. The way he handled the entire situation from the moment he reached my location through releasing me to the E.R. in St. George was amazing. I am very fortunate that there are people out there who are willing to put themselves at risk to help others. Thank you Zion SAR Team, you are the definition of Heros!
A few pics of my rescue:
Bootboy
Key word in both stories : “jumped”
Big ups to SAR