An 84-year-old man died after falling about 25 feet while rock climbing at a popular park in Wisconsin over the weekend, officials said on Wednesday.
Rescuers were dispatched to a slope on the west side of Devil’s Lake State Park around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday after receiving a report that a man had fallen, the authorities said.
The man, whose name was not released, was still alive when rescuers reached him, but he died before they could treat his injuries. “Our medics made access to him, but before we could get anything set up, he went pulse-less,” said Mark Willer, the assistant chief of the Baraboo Area Fire and E.M.S. District.
Rescuers attempted a high-angle rope rescue, a technique in which they are lowered down a steep vertical face to retrieve a climber. The man had been scaling the slope with a group but the authorities did not disclose the size of his party.
Devil’s Lake State Park is a popular destination for tourists, hikers and climbers: More than 2.5 million people visit annually, according to state government data. The park is about 37 miles northwest of Madison, Wis., and spans more than 10,000 acres. It has over a thousand climbing routes, according to visitor guides.
The climber fell in a region of the park called the West Bluff. The West Bluff Trail is considered a moderate to difficult route, according to the park’s website. It ascends over 400 feet in elevation through the woods and past steep drop-offs, offering views of Devil’s Lake and the surrounding park.
Climbers who come to Devil’s Lake State Park rarely need to be rescued and “are historically the safest people out there,” Mr. Willer said, who added that he had received only “a handful” of calls from climbers needing assistance.
The Baraboo Area Fire and E.M.S. District has a team whose members are trained for high-angle rope rescues. They have done five this year, including one in May when a climber fell around 20 feet and was flown to a nearby hospital.
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