North Shore Rescue pulled a stranded hiker off Grouse Mountain Sunday morning, the latest in what has already been an exhausting couple of months for the volunteer organization.
Rescue crews were called Saturday night after 32-year-old hiker Suk Gun Lim went off a trail and fell on the north side of Grouse Mountain.
“I just wanted to take a short trip, but when I coming down, I lost the path,” said Lim, a student from South Korea.
North Shore Rescue said the man got lost in a very steep and treacherous area, and called 911 around 7:30 p.m.
“He stopped right above a cliff, actually,” said Search Manager Jeff Yarnold.”He [was] sort of hanging onto some rocks. He [was] covered in scratches and really scared.”
Rescue crews reached Lim around 11:30 p.m., and stayed with him throughout the night, until a helicopter could be called in to pluck him off the mountain around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
He was cold, but otherwise unhurt. Officials say he was not prepared to spend a night outside, something Lim admits.
“They literally saved my life. If they didn’t come I might die in the middle of the woods,” said Lim. “It was my mistake...I was stupid.”
The incident marked North Shore Rescue’s third call that day. Crews have been called out every day this week.
“It’s not just been a busy week – it’s been almost two months now and we're probably about 45 calls now since August and it's been a blur to be honest,” said Yarnold.
Rescue crews are urging anyone heading into the backcountry to bring the essentials, including a flash light, spare clothing, and even a spare cell phone battery.
