Rock climber rescued after falling 10 metres in North Vancouver's Capilano Canyon

Two climbers scaling the Capilano Classic route in North Vancouver's Capilano Canyon around 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1 found themselves in difficulty when one fell approximately 10 metres and injured their knee.

The second climber descended to check on the injured climber, realized they couldn't extract them safely, and dialed 911. District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded by tossing multiple ropes over the canyon edge. Crew members dropped in to meet the climbers and set up a rope rescue system that lifted both climbers back to safe ground.

The injured climber came equipped with a helmet, climbing harness, rope, two-way radios, and a first-aid kit — equipment that helped them survive the fall and stay safe until rescue arrived.

"By phoning for help right away, it gets the resources to them as quickly as possible. It helps eliminate the opportunity for further injuring themselves by trying to self-rescue in a difficult situation," Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Stewart of District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services said.

Sunday was a busy day for North Vancouver fire crews. In addition to the climbing rescue, they responded to an early-morning house fire on East Osborne Avenue that damaged two homes and two other rescues for ankle injuries — one in the Mount Seymour area and another at Quarry Rock lookout. Stewart noted that ankle injuries on hiking trails are common and suggested that proper hiking footwear — as opposed to running shoes designed for engineered surfaces — can help prevent them.