[1]Rescuers tend to injured base jumper below Tower Rock outside of Randle. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 14
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 38-year-old Portland man was seriously injured when his parachute didn’t fully deploy as he base jumped from a 3,300 foot tall rock in the forest miles south of Randle yesterday.
A witness saw the man hit the rock wall several times on the way down before disappearing into the timber, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The Randle Fire Department was called about 11:45 a.m., hiked the steep terrain and reached the patent by 2 p.m., according to Fire Chief Jeff Jaques.
His two friends had hiked to the base of the mountain where they found him bleeding, with multiple fractures to his lower legs, the sheriff’s office reports. One had hiked out to call 911.
Jaques reports the patient was conscious.
A U.S. Navy helicopter from Whidbey Island responded to hoist the jumper, according to the sheriff’s office.
He was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Jaques reports his injuries were serious. Sheriff’s Office Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown reports he was critical.
Tower Rock is located in the Cispus Valley near the Cispus Environmental Center.
The rescue effort included members of Lewis County Fire District 14, Lewis County Search and Rescue, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Airlift Northwest personnel and two volunteers from the CIspus Learning Center.
[2]Tower Rock south of Randle. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.