GOLD BAR — Rescuers from multiple fire departments were called out to Wallace Falls State Park Sunday afternoon to rescue a hiker who fell down a 60-foot cliff.
The first calls came in at about 2:15 p.m., but due to the relative distance into the park and multiple calls coming from people in several locations in the area, crews were unable to locate the fallen hiker until 4 p.m.
“We didn’t have a good location of where the patient was,” said Lt. Brandon Vargas of Snohomish County Fire District 26 in Gold Bar.
The hiker, a man of unknown age, was found about 60 feet down a cliff or steep embankment below Greg Ball Trail, which leads up toward Wallace Lake.
The hiker was with a dog that had also fallen, as well as a friend, who had attempted to reach him and also fell, Vargas said.
The hiker apparently suffered back and head injuries in his fall. Neither the hiker’s friend nor the dog were injured.
Snohomish County Search and Rescue sent a helicopter to the scene, but the heavily wooded terrain forced it to land a mile away from where the hiker fell, Vargas said.
The hiker’s friend and dog were brought up first, and rescue crews instead built a rope system and lifted the injured man up the slope to the trail at about 6:45 p.m.
Rescuers then carried him to the helicopter on foot.
State park rangers and rescue crews from Monroe, Clearview and Everett were also involved in the rescue operation.
The victim’s condition and identity was not available Sunday evening.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com.
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