Four people were rescued on July 4 after becoming trapped on a 76.2-metre (250-foot) cliff in an attempt to rescue two young deer from a cliff bank in Halfmoon Bay, according to Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue.
The mission involved 22 SAR volunteers and took six hours to execute the technical rope rescue and remove the individuals, who were stuck on a steep embankment in front of a waterfront home between Evans and Eureka on Redrooffs Road.
Other emergency response crews were called to the scene, including the Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Services.
A less orthodox emergency response came from Sechelt Tree Service, who were called at approximately 5 p.m. by a customer in the area. “They called because a couple of baby deer had gone over the bank and were trapped down there… They told me they had a few weekend warrior types, inexperienced ropesmen trying to effect a rescue,” said Tyrel Brackett.
He discouraged the efforts and sent two of his employees to assess the situation. “By that point the would-be rescuers were at the point where they needed rescuing,” he said, and had already contacted emergency services. The tree services employees provided some equipment to SAR, including rope.
“We thought we’ll send a couple guys out to see if there’s something they can do and then at that point it turned into a much bigger thing,” Brackett said.
Alec Tebutt, SAR manager with SCSAR, was at the scene and said he was concerned the fawns could have fallen on top of the people who were stuck below them.
“While we understand their intentions were utmost sincere, we strongly discourage anyone from making any further attempts at rescuing the deer if they are even still there,” said a SCSAR Facebook Post published July 5.
Brackett said given the terrain, he wasn’t surprised that rescue of the rescuers was required. “They are very treacherous, steep, nasty 100-foot cliff-type banks.”
Among those rescued was Tammy Trefry, who posted about the event on Facebook. “Before everyone asks, we had to leave them,” she wrote of the fawns. She said she returned to the area at 5:30 a.m. the next day to check on them. Their condition and location is unconfirmed.
“Considering you have to rappel to get anywhere around there, it’s a near impossible task to try to just catch a wild deer by hand, and tie it to a rope and send it up the top of the bank,” Brackett said.
For more news from the Sunshine Coast, go to the Coast Reporter.
