A 16-year-old mountain climber is scheduled to undergo surgery today after surviving a 500 foot fall from Mount Hood near Portland, Oregon, reports KATU.
Gurbaz Singh fell from the Pearly Gates, one of the highest points on the 11, 200 plus feet mountain and is in stable condition with a leg injury. Rescuers lead by the Clackamas County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team, and assisted by volunteers from various groups, brought the boy down from Devil’s Kitchen where he fell into, according to ABC News.
His father said Gurbaz tried his best to stop his fall.
“He thought he was going to stop somewhere, and he was trying to arrest the fall with his ax, but it just didn’t happen because he was rolling so fast that he couldn’t do it. He’s OK with that; he’s not thinking much of it. He’s talking to family and friends. He’s in good spirits,” said Rishamdeep Singh to KATU.
ABC reports at about 10,000 feet, it took rescuers four hours to reach him and another 3 hours to take him down to safety, reported ABC.
“It’s a technical mountain — it’s not a Sunday stroll, it’s inherently dangerous,” Lt. Brian Jensen of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office told Portland ABC affiliate KATU. “Going up there, you need to have the proper skill set and the proper equipment to do so safely. And doing so with anything less than that can be dangerous.”
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