Yosemite National Park (CA)
Injured Climber Rescued From El Capitan

On Saturday, September 18th, a 42-year-old Spanish climber fell and sustained serious leg and chest injuries while speed climbing up the Nose on El Capitan. The climber and his partner were training for a “Nose in a Day” attempt when the accident occurred. He was seconding the pendulum traverse between the Sickle Ledge and Dolt Tower on the seventh pitch when he lost control, swung for approximately 50 feet, and hit the wall. Though injured and hanging in his harness, he was able to call 911 for help while his partner rappelled down to him. With the assistance of a park helicopter, rangers Chris Bellino and Keith Lober were short-hauled onto the wall, where they found the two climbers hanging in a steep section approximately 80 feet below their anchor. The rangers provided emergency medical care and extricated the injured climber by short haul to El Capitan Meadow, where an air ambulance was waiting to transport him to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. This was the third El Capitan rescue this year in which helicopter short haul played an integral role in the success of the mission. The rescue team delivered the injured climber to the awaiting air ambulance in just less than three hours from the time of the first 911 call.