Colorado Springs firefighters braved dangerously cold temperatures over the weekend to rescue a hiker who was stranded on a rocky ledge in the backcountry, firefighters said.
The rescue operation was launched shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday after the hiker reported he was trapped in the steep terrain and unable to move in North Cheyenne Canyon, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said.
The temperature at the time was about 2 degrees, KKTV reported.
Crews were able to identify the hiker’s position using a drone and sent a rescue team with high-angle ropes to walk to his location.
The rescuers set up a rope system and lowered the hiker down the side of the rock ledge. The rescue operation lasted about two hours.
The hiker was treated at a hospital for lower extremity injuries and frostbite. Some firefighters who participated in the rescue also suffered exposure to the cold and were warmed and hydrated at the scene, officials said.
Colorado Springs Fire Department crews responded to a high-angle rescue in North Cheyenne Canyon Grabs from CSFD drone footage. North Cheyenne Canyon / Facebook Rescuers set up a rope system and lowered the hiker down the side of the rock ledge. Colorado Springs Fire Department The hiker reported that he was trapped in steep terrain and unable to move in North Cheyenne Canyon. Colorado Springs Fire Department
Firefighters warned the public to stay warm and indoors as temperatures in the area remain “dangerously low” for the next few days.
“It is not safe to be outside walking, hiking or biking,” Lt. Jamie Gutschick said in a video message. “It is best to stay home for the next few days.”
Gutschick also said that people who ventured outdoors unprepared were not only putting themselves at risk, but also the firefighters who would have to come to their rescue.
An arctic front is expected to cool the Colorado Springs area through Tuesday, with temperatures barely above 0 degrees and wind chills that will make it feel below freezing, local media reported.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn