Monday's Rescue Leads To Safety Warnings At Rocks State Park

HARFORD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Safety warnings at Rocks State Park one day after the dramatic rescue of a fallen climber.

Derek Valcourt has the words of caution from park rangers.

This park is a popular place for rock climbing but, even with proper precautions, the terrain there can make it downright deadly.

Sky Eye Chopper 13 was over the rescue Monday afternoon at King and Queen Seat, where DNR police say a 16-year-old boy free-climbing without safety equipment fell at least 15 feet, hitting his head. Rescuers say he landed on a ledge just inches away from falling another 20 feet.

"He was very, very lucky he did not slide off the next ledge and continue falling," said one first responder.

After more than an hour, rescuers were able to pull the teen to safety and medevac him to a hospital.

What makes this spot so beautiful also makes it so dangerous: a 90 foot sheer job, 190 feet to Deer Creek below.

"What can make this treacherous---and particularly this year, it has been a very wet summer," said Assistant Park Manager Rob Bailey.

Park rangers like Bailey are now reminding climbers to come with the proper safety equipment and warning them that after rains can be the most dangerous time to climb.

"The water does not dry quickly up here. There's a lot of moss up here so with the amount of rain we've had, it will be a little bit more slippery than, say, in a dry summer," Bailey said.

Similar rescues at King and Queen Seats occur almost every year. With terrain so tricky, it requires rescuers undergo special training.

The boy who fell Monday is expected to survive.

Climbers are urged to bring helmets and safety harnesses and to climb with at least one other person.