Cowboy rescue!

Waiting for some action, a few days ago I received a call from RCMP dispatch requesting assistance for a motorcycle accident. You should have seen my eyes when dispatch said: we need your help for a high angle rescue, the driver is down a cliff somewhere in the park.... EMT, firefighter and police on the way... thank you and good luck! Wahoooooo! Some action.... but suddenly a small evil in my mind reminds me that I didn't received any specific training and that I don't have a clue about the equipement we use in our park. But I didn't care and grab all the rope bags that we have and the equipement that I could find. That was like in the old days at the hospital running for some action except that we were driving like crazy a pick up truck on a small road with steep cliffs at every sharp corners.

During the drive I was making scenarios in my mind and harrassing my partner (Warden Denis Haché) with questions like: "What if...?, but what if it doesn't work? and what...?". I was also reviewing the manual of rescue procedure. However my secret idea was to be the rescuer tied in at the end of the rope and taking care of the victim... what a nice begining it would be:... freshly out of the training saving someone from an horrible death at a bottom of a cliff. I have finally shared my GREAT idea to my partner who said that it would probably possible since I have some climbing and medical backgroud. Yeah Baby Yeah!!! Today it's my day. I was so excited you couldn't imagine.

After an hour drive, I can finally see the flashing lights of the other emergency vehicules on the site. I went out the truck ready to jump into my harness, a carabiner in each hands and my radio in my teeth to finally learn the sad news...

A group of highly motivated (not to say a little bit dangerous) cowboy-firefigthers went down the cliff (which in fact was a steep scree slope) with many fishermens ropes tied together. They have climbed up the victim on a wood stretcher loosing balance once in a while. The unlucky victim had enough luck to survive this chaotic trip to the ambulance that was waiting on the road....This is when I arrive at the scene and I realize that the ambulance and the victim are leaving to meet an helicopter at the landing zone nearby.

This is a sad day... I guess I will be a hero an other day.

P.S.: For those who care much about the victim than my personal happiness ;) the victim did survive a 100 meters fall with only few bruises. Thanks to his padded leather jacket and pants.

And of course I'm making some fun of myself!

Moustache forever!