Emergency crews were called on Thursday evening after a man was fatally injured in a fall while climbing on Giant’s Head Mountain.
On Thursday, July 14, at 8:07 p.m., Summerland RCMP were called to assist a B.C. Ambulance call, following the report of an climbing accident near Bland Road.
Migrant agricultural workers at an orchard property observed one work attempting to climb the west side of the mountain. The man, later identified by the B.C. Coroners Service as Gael Julian D’Ostie-Racine, 23, of Montreal, fell more than 100 metres down a cliff face.
One of the workers, who has first aid training, was able to reach the climber, but could not resuscitate him. Others called 911.
Emergency crews, including the Penticton Search and Rescue Team, were called.
Search and Rescue responded with 22 members, including a technical rope team.
Search and Rescue attendants were lowered more than 150 metres to reach the man on the ledge.
He was then lowered to safety and turned over to paramedics.
Crews covered another 190 metres descending.
D’Ostie-Racine’s body was not recovered until Friday morning.
Police, firefighters, ambulance workers, Search and Rescue and the B.C. Coroners Service attended the scene.
Eclipse Helicopters and the Search and Rescue Helicopter external Transportation System removed the body by 8:30 a.m.
D’Ostie-Racine’s family has been notified of his death.
The B.C. Coroners Service and the RCMP are continuing to investigate this death.
