EMS rescued an injured hiker Saturday afternoon at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, CO when she fell 30-feet off a cliff trying to rescue a friend’s puppy who had fallen and was stuck on a ledge.
The 25-year-old Denver woman was hiking with friends when the 3.5-month-old puppy lost its footing just before the Bridal Veil gate, tumbling about 15-feet down and getting stuck in a narrow chute. One member of the group went down below to try and catch the puppy in the event she fell. Meanwhile, the woman made her way to just above the puppy when she lost her footing, falling at least 30-feet.
The man waiting below was able to break her fall, and they both slid another 20 feet on the vertical scree field. Dispatch received the call for help at about 11:30 am, and medics arrived on the scene soon after. A SAR page was issued for assistance with a technical rope and litter rescue for carryout.
Immediately following the patient’s safe extrication, rescuers switched gears and set up another high angle technical rope rescue to come to the aid of the frightened puppy. One of the newest rescuers on the team, a recent graduate of Telluride High School and skilled rock climber, reached “Blue” the puppy via the rigged ropes, placed her in a harness and brought her safely to her owner. The puppy was uninjured. The hiker sustained what are believed to be non-life-threatening traumatic injuries and was transported by Telluride ambulance from the Telluride Regional Medical Center to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. Her friend who broke her fall sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from TMC.
