Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Rescuers prepare to hoist an injured hiker from a trail near the bottom of Palouse Falls on Tuesday afternoon.
A rescuer rappels down the waterfall basin cliff.
PALOUSE FALLS - A hikers was airlifted from Palouse Falls State Park to an area hospital Tuesday afternoon after he was knocked unconscious by a falling rock and hoisted from the waterfall basin.
The man and his wife were hiking near the bottom of the falls when a rock "described as being the size of a football" fell and struck him, knocking him unconscious, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office reported.
The 28-year-old man, whose name has yet to be released, was hoisted out of the waterfall basin to an awaiting helicopter, the Sheriff's Office reported.
"Weather conditions prevented Life Flight from getting their helicopter down to his location," a Sheriff's Office report said. "The victim had to be hoisted out by pure muscle, supplied by Columbia Basin Dive and Rescue, Pasco Fire, Franklin County Fire, Franklin County Sheriff's Office and others."
The man was placed aboard the awaiting helicopter and he was airlifted from the scene.
"He was conscious and alert during his transport," the report said.
Washington State Parks oversees Palouse Falls.
Because of previous injuries, signs have been posted along the hiking route warning people to refrain from getting too close to the cliff edges surrounding the basin.
Some of the signs say, "PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE," "WE WANT YOU TO LIVE" and "STAY BACK FROM CLIFF EDGE."
The Sheriff's Office issued the following reminder to falls visitors:
"Palouse Falls is a beautiful location where many people can enjoy the wonders of nature and breathe taking scenery. The cliffs and the river are unforgiving to mistakes, missteps, and inattention. Please enjoy these locations with upmost safety in mind."
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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