Monday afternoon, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call about a climbing accident at Oak Creek Vista off of Highway 89A. Officials say a 57-year old male from Tucson had sustained a back injury when he fell approximately 20-feet at the end of his rappel. Due to the location of the injured climber and the nature of his injuries, Search and Rescue established a technical rope system to lower a rescuer and basket litter to the man. Highlands Fire and Guardian Medical personnel had hiked to the climber’s location to provide initial treatment and help prepare him to be raised by the rope system. Search and Rescue then raised the injured man to the top of the canyon to the waiting ambulance and transported him to FMC for treatment.
