Teen Female Falls 40 Feet Off Rocky Butte in Portland
The victim was transported to Emanuel Hospital with life threatening injuries.
(PORTLAND, Ore. ) — Portland Fire and Rescue crews are still trying to determine what caused a young woman to fall more than 40' off of Rocky Butte late Friday night.
The young woman, in her early teens, was transported to Emanuel Hospital with life threatening injuries.
Rocky Butte is a popular recreation area for bikers, hikers and rock climbers -- but the area can be extremely dangerous as was evidenced Friday night.
Responding to reports of a young woman over the edge of Rocky Butte, the PF&R technical rescue team arrived on scene just minutes later.
Because Rocky Butte is a large area, fire crews decided to send companies to the top of the cliff "topside" and bottom "bottom side" in anticipation of the rescue.
Topside firefighters searching with large lights located the patient at the base of the cliffs more than 40' below and could see that she was moving.
Two firefighter/paramedics were lowered to the patient from above using a high-angle rope rescue system.
Upon reaching the patient, firefighters performed a rapid evaluation and determined the need for urgent evacuation. The firefighters then immediately began treating the woman's many injuries.
Rescuers placed the woman into a rescue litter and carried her approximately 1/3 of a mile to the awaiting ambulance.
Portland Fire and Rescue would like to remind everyone that while Portland parks are a wonderful source of recreation -- they can turn deadly in an instant.
Hikers should stick to established pathways, follow posted signage and steer away cliffs or unknown areas -- especially during the evening when visibility is limited.
Source: Portland Fire and Rescue
