MINNEAPOLIS — A man is hospitalized in Minneapolis after falling 150 feet off a cliff in Minneapolis Monday.
Minneapolis Assistant Fire Chief Kathleen Mullen said dispatchers received a 911 call from the victim around 7 a.m. saying he was laying in the snow by the riverbank and couldn't move. He was not able to provide a description of exactly where he was. The department's Technical rescue team responded but was initially unable to find the victim.
As rescuers were searching dispatchers were able to ping the caller's phone and get an approximate location. That led rescue crews to the 2500 block of West River Parkway, where they were able to make voice contact with the victim. Mullen said he had fallen 150 feet off a cliff, landing on an ice shelf by the banks of the Mississippi River.
Rescue crews had to deal with both the cold, and scaling a cliff for the rescue.
A medic and a rescue technician were lowered down to the victim, and were able to get him onto a board so he could be lifted to safety. Mullen said the man was unable to stand or use his legs, and at minimum had suffered injuries due to exposure to single-digit temps. She believes he was stuck for at least three hours after the fall.
"Pretty obviously he had been down there for hours so he was very cold, unable to help us with standing or manipulating any kind of equipment," said Dean Anderson, who was part of the rescue.
Anderson said the rescue was even more challenging because of the cold. The special gear they wear during rescues is thin.
"I mean, just putting my harness on, my hands were to the point where I was losing dexterity," he said.
Mullen said authorities have been unable to identify the victim, who was taken to a hospital for treatment.