Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on August 28, Benjamin G. Antonio (67) was climbing on the north side of Concord Tower, near Washington Pass, when a handhold broke and Antonio fell. He swung about 45 feet and hit the wall feet first. His partner lowered Antonio to a ledge, where a doctor who was in the area assessed his injuries. (Concord’s north face is directly opposite the very popular southwest face of Liberty Bell.)

Antonio activated his personal locator beacon, and several other people in the area used their inReach devices to call for help, advising that the patient was suspected of having a possible broken pelvis and back injury. King County sent a helicopter crew, but they were unable to hoist Antonio out due to the difficult terrain. A crew from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island responded and airlifted Antonio to Seattle. (Source: Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.)

ANALYSIS

Holds should be tested before weighting them, especially in a mountain environment. Given the long fall, the leader does not appear to have placed adequate protection. This party was prepared with an emergency device to call for help, as were others in the area, which sped the rescue. (Source: The Editors.)