A climber on Ha Ling was seriously injured after he fell up to 20 metres and had to be rescued from the side of the mountain, Sunday (July 14).
Kananaskis public safety specialists responded to a call for help on Sunday morning when one of two climbers on the northeast ridge of Ha Ling fell.
“They were just starting the fifth pitch when the lead climber just came a little bit off the route, he wasn’t exactly on the normal route people take up that climb when he fell,” said public safety specialist Mike Koppang. “It is unsure what caused the fall, if the hold broke or if his foot slipped. He couldn’t quite remember, but he did fall and one of the pieces of gear he had to catch him popped out and then he fell between 15 to 20 metres.”
Koppang said the man came to rest after being caught on a piece of gear, but as a result of the fall he severely injured both of his legs, his hand and had a number of lacerations to his head.
Alpine Helicopters pilot Perry Hirsch flew public safety specialist Matt Mueller in to assess the scene and a second rescuer so they could climb over and above the injured climber.
Koppang said they bolted a station above and Mueller was lowered down to the patient.
“Then he did a quick assessment and he called for another rescuer and I went up as well,” he said. “He was in fairly steep terrain, so we had to get him off his rope, package him for his injuries and get him off the mountain.
“We did a heli-sling rescue to remove him down to the dam and then we transferred him to STARS.
“His climbing partner didn’t have any injuries, but was pretty shaken up and didn’t have anyone to get down the mountain with, so we brought him down.”
Koppang said the climber’s helmet saved his life.
“His helmet was for sure what saved his life, because he did flip upside down and crack his head really good and his helmet was severely damaged,” he said. “His head was fairly cut up, had he not been wearing a helmet it would have been his head that was severely damaged.”
