VICTORIA HARBOUR, N.S. — A rescued man is now safe after a close call during a solo hike.
The man became trapped on a steep incline while hiking in Victoria Harbour Feb. 18.
Aylesford and District Volunteer Fire Department chief Shawn Carey confirmed his department responded to a public assist call indicating that the man was in distress around 3:30 p.m. Feb. 18.
The hiker had started climbing up a steep embankment using a rope installed at the site, and was able to climb to about halfway up the slope when he began experiencing chest pains and called emergency services. The department and RCMP arrived at the site soon after and co-ordinated a response.
Carey said he estimates the slope where the hiker became trapped is roughly 60 feet high.
“I think it was the fact that he did a long hike, and it was hard terrain. He was on the beach, and then trying to get up a rock wall – he was probably very tired,” said Carey.
“We were able to get him up the slope and back to his truck safely.”
Carey confirmed firefighters then left the man with EHS paramedics, who checked him over at the scene. He could not confirm whether the man was later sent to hospital.
Despite this being one of two rescues on Feb. 18 involving hikers in Kings County, Carey says his department rarely gets such calls.
“It’s really only about once per year for us – this was just a busy day. But it’s a different story for Canning,” he said.
