A visitor fell over a Grand Island cliff on Wednesday after he approached the edge and slipped on a root left wet from recent rain.
Around noon on July 27, 2022, individuals were riding their bicycles on Grand Island on the Hiawatha National Forest, when they departed the trail in a remote section of the island’s west side near the Mather Lodge area.
A 35-year-old male approached the edge of a cliff on foot and stepped on a root that was wet from rain in the previous 24 hours. The man then fell approximately 70 feet down into Lake Superior, where he was assisted out of the water by other visitors.
Several agencies responded to the incident, including the US Forest Service, Alger County Sheriff’s Office, Alger County EMS, Alger County Rescue 21, Munising City Fire Department, US Coast Guard, and the National Park Service. The individual was then assessed and escorted to the Munising City Marina, where he was met by a Guardian LifeFlight helicopter and transported to UP Health System in Marquette, MI. The individual is in stable condition.
The Hiawatha National Forest encourages visitors to recreate responsibly. Many areas of the Forest are remote, making emergency response difficult.
“The safety of our public and employees is our highest priority,” said West Zone District Ranger Charlie Marsh. “We want our visitors to enjoy their experience on the Forest and ask that they recreate responsibly and recognize the inherent dangers while utilizing National Forest lands. At the end of the day, we want everyone to make it home safely.”
‘For more information about current conditions or outdoor safety, visit the Hiawatha National Forest online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/hiawatha/alerts-notices.
Comments