Observer SALMON ARM
Wednesday May 16, 2012 www.saobserver.net $1.25 HST INCLUDED
Teen falls from cliff in Gleneden By Tracy Hughes OBSERVER STAFF
A teenager remains in serious condition in Royal Inland Hospital after apparently slipping off a trail above Gleneden Falls and plunging approximately 60 feet to land on rocks underneath the falls. The unnamed girl, who appeared to be about 18 years old, was walking along an upper trail with a friend at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 11 when she fell. “It appears she just lost her footing and went over the edge,” says Cpl. Luiz Sardinha of the Salmon Arm RCMP. “She ended up on the rocks under the falls with the water landing on her. It was fortunate there were some rock climbers and hikers with first-aid training right there.” Jordan Pack was one of the rock climbers. He, along with his partner Alaina Labelle, was preparing to scale a nearby rock face when they saw the teen fall. It appeared she slipped, slid on her stomach and fell feet first over the cliff face. “I heard the scream, looked up and saw her fall,” he said. “It was horrific to watch a person fall like that... I’m having trouble getting it out of my mind.” Pack, who has level-three firstaid training, raced to help the girl, who was being drenched by the waterfall. He was joined by Don Lazar, a hiker who also has first aid knowledge. Lazar’s wife Kelly ran down the trail with the girl’s friend to find a place to make cell phone calls for help. The two men climbed to the base of the falls and immediately
began first aid. “We tried to stabilize her spine and we knew she had head injuries. She was barely conscious, just mumbling. We had to get her out of the water, so we moved her to the bank,” says Pack. The rescuers then moved her across the creek for easier access to emergency personnel, and tried to cover her with their jackets in an attempt to keep her warm. “It was pretty emotional, we saw her starting to shiver so we just tried to give her a bear hug, to keep her as warm as we could. It felt like forever until we saw the paramedics come up with the stretcher.” BC Ambulance confirms the call and says due to the obvious seriousness of the teen’s condition a medi-vac helicopter from Kamloops was dispatched immediately. Shuswap Search and Rescue were also called in to assist with the rescue. “It was great to see how everyone came to help. The climbers, neighbours from the area, search and rescue. And the helicopter was so fast. By the time the paramedics had her halfway down the trail, the helicopter was waiting in the parking lot,” says Sardinha. “She was very lucky, not much longer and it wouldn’t have been light enough for the helicopter to fly in like that.” Pack says Saturday was a difficult day for the couple, as they had not heard about the girl’s condition, but they have now been informed the teen is more stable. “We heard she has a fractured skull, broken ankles, broken ribs, a See Safety on page A2
JAMES MURRAY/OBSERVER
Toughs with tiaras
Dance students, including Jasmine Skubiak and Mackenzie Mount, perform in Fairy Tales, presented by students of the Shuswap Dance Centre, held Friday at the SASCU Recreation Centre.
No resolution on pot plan By Martha Wickett OBSERVER STAFF
At this point, Salmon Arm council won’t be signing a resolution supporting a regulatory approach to the control of marijuana, but nonetheless council members have been recognized for their ability to keep open minds. Retired physician Dave Ken-
This week RCMP discover an underground bunker containing a marijuana grow. See more on A3. Soccer action continues in the Shuswap with teams of all ages. See a wrap-up on A21.
nedy spoke at council’s May 14 meeting on behalf of Stop the Violence BC, asking that council adopt a resolution endorsing the regulation, taxation and control of marijuana use under a public health framework. Kennedy and his group have spoken to a number of councils, finding support for the proposed resolution from such communities
as Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Lake Country, Victoria and four in the Lower Mainland. As he concluded his presentation in Salmon Arm, Kennedy expressed his appreciation to council. “Thank you for being willing to enter into a dialogue. This is the See Issue on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports............... A18-A22 Arts & Events ... A23-A25 Time Out................... A12 Vol. 105, No. 20, 48 pages