A 12-year-old girl was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital after being rescued from the bottom of a steep ravine in Brookswood on Monday.
Langley City fire crews got a call about the girl falling near 204 Street and 43 Avenue, around 3:40 p.m.
“We located the young lady about 60 feet down a steep embankment,” said Peter Methot, assistant City fire chief. “We don’t know how or why she fell. But luckily, the crew we had are proficient in rope rescue.”
Methot said 20 City firefighters, several paramedics and several Township firefighters helped in the rescue, which involved climbing gear and using ropes attached to the large cedar trees to pull the girl up.
She was put in a basket stretcher instead of a regular stretcher to make the rescue possible, he said.
Once the girl was safely brought to higher ground, she was taken to an awaiting helicopter that had landed in the nearby cemetery at 208 Street and 44 Avenue.
She was conscious the whole time, but suffered several injuries including a severe fracture and possible pelvis fracture. She was being checked for possible internal injuries. Methot didn’t have an update on how the girl is doing.
He said this was the first time City firefighters trained in rope rescue got to use their skills.
“We are very happy with how well the rope rescue went,” said Methot.
