Canada

BASE jumper rescued from Squamish, B.C., mountain after dangling off cliff face

A BASE jumper, Alenka Mali, recently had a terrifying experience when her parachute got caught on a rock or tree on the cliff face of the Stawamus Chief mountain in Squamish, B.C. She found herself dangling precariously 200 meters from the ground, fearing for her life as she waited for rescue.

Mali, who was attempting a BASE jump at the mountain peak that soars 700 meters above the ground, described the harrowing moments leading up to her rescue. “I was pretty much just waiting for that final impact that was going to either kill me or break all my bones — until I came to a complete stop,” Mali shared with CBC News.

Fortunately, more than 30 volunteer rescuers from Squamish Search and Rescue were quickly mobilized to help extricate Mali from her precarious position. Initially, there were plans to use a helicopter for the rescue operation, but concerns about the downwash potentially dislodging Mali from her position led to a change in strategy.

Ultimately, one rescuer was lowered down using ropes to safely extract Mali from the cliff face. Despite the ordeal and the hours-long wait, Mali miraculously escaped with minor injuries. Grateful for the efficient and successful rescue, she expressed her intention to resume BASE jumping in the future.

Mike Teske, incident commander with Squamish SAR, highlighted the frequency of their involvement in rescuing BASE jumpers, averaging one or two such incidents annually out of the 150 rescues they handle each year. In a Facebook post, Squamish SAR acknowledged the increasing frequency of calls related to BASE jumping accidents and expressed relief that Mali’s rescue had a positive outcome.

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The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with extreme sports like BASE jumping and the importance of being prepared for emergencies in such activities. Mali’s story is a testament to the dedication and expertise of search and rescue teams who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of adventurers in distress.

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