Search and rescue crews treated a 20-year-old man for a dislocated shoulder after a jump from a popular cliff-diving spot
Article content
Lions Bay Search and Rescue is warning people about the risks of cliff jumping after a 20-year-old man dislocated his shoulder at a popular jumping spot on Monday afternoon.
Article content
The rescue team was called at about 4:40 p.m. to a marine park south of Lions Bay.
Article content
Article content
“This poor guy was in a lot of pain. He was basically immobilized,” said search manager Brent Calkin.
Article content
The man had jumped from a cliff about 10 metres high — not the highest point at the site, but high enough to cause injury. Calkin estimated he hit the water at about 50 to 60 km/h.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
“In this guy’s case, he was windmilling his arms on the way down, and his arms were outspread when he hits the water,” Calkin said. “At 60 km/hr when that happens, the water just rips your arm off your shoulder.”
Article content
Sunrise
Article content
The man was given pain medication before members of the search and rescue team, which included a paramedic and an emergency room doctor, was able to put his shoulder back in place.
Article content
He was then transported by a Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue boat to Horseshoe Bay where paramedics took him to hospital.
Article content
Calkin said Lions Bay Search and Rescue is called out for injured cliff jumpers once or twice a year, but suspects many more people suffer minor injuries and are able to leave the area on their own.
Article content
He urged people to think twice before jumping.
Article content
“Even small jumps like 10- to 20-foot jumps can injure you,” he said. “It doesn’t take much height to create an injury.”
Article content
According to B.C. Adventure Smart, any jump from a height can be dangerous. A person jumping from three metres, or 10 feet, will be travelling about 27 km/h when they hit the water. From a height of six metres, or 20 feet, that speed increases to about 40 km/h.
Article content
Even when jumpers enter the water feet first, the speed can cause spinal compression, bone fractures, concussion or a collapsed lung, it said.
Article content
Article content
