Climber scales 200 feet up spire in Arizona. Then her leg gets stuck in crack
A rock climber became stranded on a spire 200 feet above ground after her leg got stuck in a crack, Arizona officials said.
The 25-year-old woman was scaling Queen Victoria Spire near Schnebly Hill Road in Sedona on Sunday, Jan. 8, with four other climbers, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 9 news release.
The woman’s fellow climbers tried to free her leg after it became stuck about 150 feet below the spire’s summit, the sheriff’s office said. When their attempts failed, they called 911 shortly after 5 p.m.
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The sheriff’s office rescue unit, Sedona Fire District and Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue took part in the rescue mission that “was complicated by operating in the dark on steep and complex terrain,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Rescuers came up with a plan that involved hoisting a trooper and medic to the woman “to assess the situation,” as well as to try and free the woman’s leg, the sheriff’s office said.
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The trooper and medic determined they would need more help, and four from the sheriff’s office’s rescue team were hoisted to the top of the spire to set up a “rope rescue system,” the sheriff’s office said. Meanwhile, a team from the fire department waited below the spire in case they were needed.
While the team was setting up, the trooper and medic were able to free the woman’s leg from the crack, the sheriff’s office said.
A rescue helicopter hoisted the climbers and rescuers from the spire, the sheriff’s office said.
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“This complex incident took a number of hours and resources,” the Sedona Fire District said Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Paramedics examined the climbers, who refused additional care before leaving, the sheriff’s office said.
Sedona is about 115 miles northeast of Phoenix.
This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 1:23 PM with the headline "Climber scales 200 feet up spire in Arizona. Then her leg gets stuck in crack."
