Man rescued from Scarborough Bluffs after 24 hours stuck on cliff

A man has been rescued from a remote area of the Scarborough Bluffs after being trapped there for approximately 24 hours, Toronto Fire said Tuesday.

Crews were called around 8 a.m. on August 4 after a passerby heard the man in distress. The man was located about 30-40 feet from the top of the Bluffs in an area not regularly frequented by the public. Once crews found him, they conducted a ladder rescue and took him to the Bluffers Marine Unit Dock.

Paramedics assessed the man and found him to have minor injuries but he was severely dehydrated from extended exposure to the elements. "He is very lucky that the passerby did hear him," Toronto Fire Commander John Davidson said. "He's very fortunate in being discovered and rescued from the situation."

It remains unclear exactly how the man ended up on the cliff. Davidson said he "apparently fell over the edge, but I cannot confirm that" or the sequence of events. Davidson cautioned visitors to stay on designated trails and avoid fenced-off areas, noting that the Bluffs have been an attraction for adventurers throughout his 34 years with Toronto Fire Services. "It is a dangerous area although it is a very beautiful area," he said. "We just have to respect the elements and the hazards down there."