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Man clinging to Mackinac Island cliff had ’10 seconds left before letting go,’ rescuers say

Man stable after being rescued from Mackinac Island cliff

Firefighters set up a ladder at the base of the cliff to rescue the man, who was "slipping and couldn't hold on" after falling. After being brought down the ladder, the man was turned over to EMS. He is in stable condition, according to firefighters. (Mackinac Island Fire Department)

A man was rescued after falling down a cliff where climbing is prohibited on Mackinac Island, officials said.

At 1:57 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, the Mackinac Island Fire Department received a report that a man had fallen down a cliff and possibly had a broken arm.

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While firefighters were on the way to the scene, dispatch told them that “the man was slipping and couldn’t hold on much longer.”

Firefighters set up a ladder at the base of the cliff, and some also went to the top of the cliff to prepare for a technical line rescue.

Mackinac Island Firefighter Joshua Carley went up the ladder and rescued the man.

“It was said he had about 10 seconds left before letting go,” the fire department said.

After the man was rescued, he was turned over to EMS. He is in stable condition.

The fire department said that personnel from the water filtration plant were “instrumental in spotting the man.”

This is the second rescue this year, and the 10th in the last 15 years, even though climbing on cliffs is prohibited.


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