A hiker was rescued Sunday afternoon after falling roughly 40 feet down an embankment at Discovery Park, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
The fire department said its Fire Alarm Center received the call at 3:46 p.m. Crews were able to communicate with the patient, who reported a minor injury and said he was seated on a narrow ledge while waiting for help.
Responders set up a rope rescue operation, anchoring lines at the top of the hillside. Teams were split into three groups positioned above the slope, along the trail, and on the beach below to coordinate the effort and monitor conditions from multiple angles.
Reaching the patient required clearing a path through dense vegetation and navigating steep terrain. Firefighters used chainsaws and machetes before installing a rope system to access the area.
Firefighters from Rescue Company 1, with assistance from Ladder 8, were lowered down the slope to the patient. He was secured in a Stokes basket and gradually lowered to the beach, where medics were waiting.
By 5:25 p.m., the patient had been brought safely to the ground. The approximately 19-year-old male reported only minor injuries and declined transport to a hospital.
All crews were able to exit the hillside safely after the rescue was completed.
The response included Engine 20, Engine 41, Ladder 8, Ladder 9, Medic 18, Aid 14, a Medical Services Officer, Battalion Chiefs from Battalions 4 and 6, the Safety Chief, and the Public Information Officer. A fireboat and rescue boat were also dispatched for a time due to the nearby shoreline.
Photos: Seattle Fire