Vancouver firefighters rescue person trapped at Wreck Beach
Posted March 7, 2023 1:10 pm.
Last Updated March 7, 2023 3:33 pm.
Vancouver fire crews were called to the Wreck Beach area on Tuesday to help someone who got stuck between some rocks.
According to Captain Matt Trudeau, the person was stuck on Trail 6, and crews were called just after noon.
“Thankfully, there was just minor injuries to one individual,” he said.
There were about 10 trucks on the scene, along with the BC Ambulance Service and RCMP officers, as part of the technical rescue.
“I think they just slipped while walking on some rocks and just, unfortunately, got wedged into a bad area where their foot and leg area got stuck. It required some heavier tools and equipment to get the individual freed,” Trudeau said, adding the rescue took about two hours.
He says rescue crews used special airbags to move multiple heavy rocks out of the way to get the person loose and transport them to paramedics by a hovercraft.
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Trudeau says this is the first time he’s heard of someone getting stuck in rocks at Wreck Beach but notes the area does pose challenges for rescues in general.
“It’s just a challenging area because of the stairs and getting someone who could have a medical issue down there,” he said. “Any time we have a medical issue down there, it is challenging getting crews to specific areas where the person is because there’s not really too many landmarks there.”
-With files from Michael Williams
