ROCK CLIMBER RESCUED BY ANOTHER CLIMBER IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

A rock climber who fell while climbing in Joshua Tree National Park was rescued by another climber late Tuesday afternoon. According to County Fire Captain Jay Dimoff, the climber, identified only as being from Ventura, was on Intersection Rock about sunset when he slipped and fell about 100 feet up, breaking his right ankle. A woman who was with him climbed down to call for help. A nearby climber, whom Dimoff described as a very experienced climber, climbed up Intersection Rock, attached the victim in front of himself, and rappelled down the rock. By the time firefighters arrived, the victim and his rescuer were about 15 feet above the ground. Dimoff said they put the injured climber on a backboard, and he was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs by Morongo Basin Ambulance.