June 21, 2015 by admin

Crews free man from rock crevice near Collingwood after 13-hour rescue effort

A 30-year-old man has been freed after he fell about 40 feet in a rock cavern south of Collingwood Saturday.
The rescue effort took more than 13 hours and involved rescue crews from Barrie, Toronto and the OPP.
The man was discovered around 8 p.m. by hikers who just happened to be passing by and heard his calls.
Family members said they lost contact with the man from Glen Huron around 12 p.m. Saturday.
It’s not clear how he became trapped, but he came to rest at a sharp angle and was difficult to reach, Deputy Chief Bill Boyes of Barrie Fire and Emergency Service said.
A rescue team from Barrie was called in to assist local firefighters Saturday night and a tactical rescue team from Toronto Fire Services was called in to help free the man on Sunday.
The man is believed to be injured, but it’s not clear to what extent.
Rescue teams were able to get him food and water and were in contact with him as they worked.
Boyes said crews were drilling away some rock so that they could reach the man.
He was finally freed at about 10 a.m. Sunday
The remote conservation area is popular with hikers and features large limestone cliffs.
A friend of the man told CTV News that he was familiar with the area and often explored the caves.