Rescuers tend to injured base jumper below Tower Rock outside of Randle. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 14
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 38-year-old Portland man was seriously injured when his parachute didn’t fully deploy as he base jumped from a 3,300 foot tall rock in the forest miles south of Randle yesterday.
A witness saw the man hit the rock wall several times on the way down before disappearing into the timber, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The Randle Fire Department was called about 11:45 a.m., hiked the steep terrain and reached the patent by 2 p.m., according to Fire Chief Jeff Jaques.
His two friends had hiked to the base of the mountain where they found him bleeding, with multiple fractures to his lower legs, the sheriff’s office reports. One had hiked out to call 911.
Jaques reports the patient was conscious.
A U.S. Navy helicopter from Whidbey Island responded to hoist the jumper, according to the sheriff’s office.
He was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Jaques reports his injuries were serious. Sheriff’s Office Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown reports he was critical.
Tower Rock is located in the Cispus Valley near the Cispus Environmental Center.
The rescue effort included members of Lewis County Fire District 14, Lewis County Search and Rescue, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Airlift Northwest personnel and two volunteers from the CIspus Learning Center.
Tower Rock south of Randle. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Paging Dr. Freud….
I was thinking you like that rock for its phalic qualities…
Am I the only one thinking that this person’s injuries will probably make them disabled for life-one more on the social security disability payroll-will there be any money left for us who just try to work for a living just hoping to get our piece of the social security pie?
I’ve been up there. I vividly recall the feeling of my stomach rising into my throat when I took my first look over the edge. The 100 foot trees below looked like blades of grass. It’s a LOONNNGGG way down to the bottom. I took the trail back.
Thankfully none of the rescuers got hurt bailing this person out of his situation. I agree with Free Air, he should be sent the bill for the rescue efforts. You find your self hurt or in need of help because of your choice of activity, you should be liable for the cost of your rescue.
Another granola crunching hippie I’m sure.
Don’t worry, it will work out. Statistically, base jumpers have a 1 in 60 chance of dying from their sport.
Base jumping is Buildings, Antennas, Span, Earth. Span mostly means bridges, like the Perrine Bridge over the Snake River in Twin Falls. Earth mainly means cliffs, but high rocks work. Up until that 1 in 60th time, actually 1 in about 2,000 jumps. The 1 in 60 statistics is for base jumpers, not base jumps. It is illegal in most of the famous cliffs, like the Grand Canyon and El Capitan. It is actually legal to base jump off the Perrine Bridge, no permit required, although I believe you have to tell someone in authority you are doing it. There a few deaths there each year.
Once again our local Search and Rescue interferes with the proper course of natural selection.
I sure hope someone sends him the bill for all that effort and equipment.