Injured boy, teen rescued
<p>Bonner County EMS, Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS personnel and sheriff’s deputies evacuate a 19-year-old who was attacked by bees while scaling a rocky hillside at Talache. (Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD)</p>
SAGLE — A 9-year-old boy was seriously injured Friday by a falling rock dislodged from a steep hillside overlooking Lake Pend Oreille at Talache.
Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS Chief Ron Stocking said the boy was evacuated by the scene by helicopter and flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.
Stocking said the boy was part of a five-member group that was attempting to scale the rocky hillside when another member of the group accidentally loosened a 5-pound rock, causing it to strike the 9-year-old.
“He was unconscious at one point,” Stocking said.
A teen who was watching the group got the boy off the hillside.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old with the group was attacked by bees and was showing signs of an allergic reaction.
Selkirk firefighter Ethan Colby hiked up from the lakeshore to rescue the 19-year-old, who was put aboard a Bonner County sheriff’s marine patrol vessel and taken to Talache Landing. That teen was evaluated by Bonner County EMS workers.
Selkirk firefighter Britain Whitley rappelled 200 feet down the hillside to rescue two other children — an 11-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy — who remained trapped on the rugged hillside, according to Stocking.
Harnesses were placed on the children and they were hoisted to safety.
“It was quite a dynamic, challenging rescue,” said Stocking.