Woman Trapped on Zipline Rescued by Wrightwood Firefighters

Add Feedback

Share |

November 2011

Firefighters from the Wrightwood Station responded to a report of a female adult, approximately 35 yoa, trapped on a zipline operated by Navitat Canopy Zipline Tours and was currently halfway through the course behind Bufford Canyon. The female was approximately 75 yards from the take-off platform when the zipline and trolley suddenly stopped after being caught on a tree branch, causing her injury.

Trained personnel from Navitat were able to free the female from the tree limb and pull her back to the platform, then freed the zipline that was caught. This process took about 11⁄2 hours to complete. A firefighter paramedic carrying medical supplies and a stokes litter basket had to zipline to where the victim was located to render medical aid. Due to the female's injuries and the discomfort of the harness system, the patient was secured in the stokes basket, where Navitat personnel then used the remaining two legs of the zipline course to get her to a location where firefighters could provide further medical treatment. The entire process took about 3 hours to complete.

Once at the final platform, firefighters used a stokes litter wheel to transport the victim about 3⁄4 of a mile downhill on a narrow path through the mountainous terrain to an awaiting off-road vehicle, where she was then transported the remaining 2 miles to an awaiting ambulance. She was then transported by San Bernardino County Fire personnel to Kaiser Hospital in Fontana.

All remaining guests/participants were safely evacuated by Navitat employees.

San Bernardino County Fire and Los Angeles County Fire Departments trained this past spring with the Navitat Company in the event such an incident were to occur. This rescue was successful thanks in part to this pre-planning and training.



Author:San Bernardino County Fire Dept. Press Release