North Vancouver firefighters faced a busy Sunday as they responded to five rescue calls in just one day. The increase in outdoor activities, thanks to warm and sunny weather, kept emergency crews active throughout the day.
The first call came at 11:45 a.m. from the Baden Powell Trail near the Grouse Grind. Firefighters found a 67-year-old man struggling to breathe on the trail. The team helped him walk out to the parking lot, where paramedics met him. The man declined medical treatment and left the scene, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Cappellini.
By 1:30 p.m., the crew was called to Quarry Rock near Marker 6 to assist a 45-year-old man who had fallen and dislocated his hip on the trail. Firefighters carefully secured the injured man and carried him out. Paramedics then took him to the hospital for treatment.
The most serious rescue took place shortly after 5 p.m. at Lynn Canyon. A man who jumped off a cliff into the 90 Foot Pool suffered a dislocated shoulder. Although he managed to swim to shore, his friend contacted a park ranger for help. At the same time, firefighters from the City of North Vancouver were assisting with a high-rise alarm call. They joined district crews to respond to the canyon incident.
Rescuers used a high-angle rope system set up on the suspension bridge to reach the injured jumper. A firefighter descended to evaluate and secure the man with a harness. The team then pulled him back up and safely handed him over to BC Ambulance for medical care.
While handling the Lynn Canyon rescue, firefighters received another call about a mountain biker injured at Grouse Mountain bike park. The 21-year-old man hurt his back, ribs, and abdomen. Firefighters assisted him to an ambulance for transport to hospital.
On their way back from the canyon rescue, the crew received yet another call to Lynn Canyon. They returned over the suspension bridge to help a woman experiencing severe pain and fluctuating consciousness. She was also taken to hospital for further care.
Assistant Fire Chief Cappellini noted that these five rescues were in addition to the regular volume of medical calls the department handles.
“It’s a weekend. The weather’s getting better. It just goes like that sometimes,” he said. Many people may have rested the day before but decided spontaneously to get outdoors on Sunday.
Cappellini reminded everyone to prepare for changing environmental conditions, especially during the current warm and sunny weather.
“Wear hats and sunscreen, and stay hydrated,” he advised. He also recommended planning strenuous outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day, such as mornings and evenings.
