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A climber who plunged 30 feet down a Colorado mountainside was rescued after firefighters spent hours carrying out a complex high-angle rescue, officials said.
Crews responded around 2:17 p.m. Monday to North Cheyenne Cañon, where the injured climber was located more than 400 feet above the road in rugged terrain, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said.
Firefighters hiked up the steep terrain to reach him and immediately began treating his critical injuries.
Rescuers then built a high-angle rope system to lower the climber safely down the mountainside. Specialized rescue teams worked for nearly three hours to maneuver the injured man down the mountainside using a rescue basket.
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Crews located the climber more than 400 feet above the road and hiked steep terrain to reach him in an hourslong rescue on Monday, March 30, 2026. (Colorado Springs Fire Department)
A drone team provided aerial guidance to help crews find the safest route, while whole blood was staged at the base of the mountain in case it was needed.
A drone team provided crews with aerial guidance to ascend the rugged mountainside using the safest routes. (Colorado Springs Fire Department)
The climber was ultimately airlifted to a local hospital. No updates on the climber’s injuries or his identity were immediately provided.
Firefighters, however, did provide some details about what led to the fall.
The climber suffered critical injuries in the 30-foot fall. Firefighters said he was not wearing a helmet, though did not specify what type of injuries he sustained. (Colorado Springs Fire Department)
“We’ve learned the climber lost his grip while securing himself; the gear failed, and he was not wearing a helmet,” the fire department said.
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Officials credited the climber’s partner with “saving crucial time” by calling 911 and helping guide rescuers directly to the injured climber’s location.
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Authorities urged climbers to wear proper safety equipment, carry a charged phone and “never hike or climb alone.”