From Firehouse:
WA Firefighters Perform Difficult Rope Rescue at Remote Waterfall
An injured hiker was rescued late Wednesday in a difficult rope rescue operation on a cliff face at remote Racehorse Falls, fire officials said.
"This was straight down, vertical," about 40 to 50 feet, said Chief Jerry DeBruin of Whatcom County Fire District 14.
DeBruin said the man, who was 20 to 30 years old, fell about halfway down and landed on a ledge, injuring his shoulder and possibly his chest.
Details about the victim's injuries were withheld because of medical privacy laws, but DeBruin said the man wasn't critically hurt. He was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph hospital about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
Racehorse Falls is a 139-foot fan-type waterfall in a steep, narrow gorge carved by Racehorse Creek, according to the website Aaron's Waterfall World. The falls plunge in a series of steps to a deep pool.
The call to 911 was placed at 9:30PM so it was pitch dark for the rescue. The people out here are professionals - very happy to know that they are here for us. T and I were at a meeting in the District 14 firehall a few days ago.
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