Photo taken Friday by professional photographer Mike Biden

Penticton Search and Rescue activated at 4:50pm responding to a fallen/injured male climber in the Skaha Bluffs (Ravens Castle) area.

Nineteen SAR members responded to the call and our Initial Response Team was on site with the subject within 35 minutes of the callout. Two RCMP members were also on scene and we appreciated their help on the slippery slopes very much.

While the IRT provided first aid to the subject, our HETS (Helicopter External Transportation System) team scrambled from Penticton Airport onboard Eclipse Helicopters.

“It was determined at the initial callout that the subject was injured badly and required a hasty extraction from the area. Carrying the subject out on a stretcher was not an option tonight”, said SAR Manager Ron Muir.

Within an hour, the subject was treated, packaged, and transported from the bluffs to EHS in the parking area, for transportation to Penticton General Hospital.