West Vancouver firefighters successfully rescued a man and his dog after the pair plunged off a 30-meter cliff near Cypress Falls on Sunday morning.
Emergency crews responded to the distress call around 9 a.m., finding both the dog and the man roughly 30 meters below the cliff edge, near the base of the falls. With a team of nearly a dozen firefighters on-site, rescuers quickly established a rope system to bring the duo back to safety. The first priority was retrieving the dog, followed by the man. Remarkably, neither appeared to have sustained any injuries.
Assistant Chief of Operations Junior Harvey expressed surprise at the outcome. “It’s definitely unusual. We’ve had similar calls from that area before, but it’s a particularly tricky terrain to navigate,” he said. “This was an unexpected result given the conditions.”
According to Harvey, the incident unfolded when the group, which included the dog’s owner and a friend, were hiking along the trail. The dog ventured off the path, losing its footing on a steep section of the cliff before falling. The dog’s owner’s friend then attempted to climb down to assist the animal, eventually moving it to a safer, dry location while waiting for rescue teams.
Firefighters concluded the operation just before noon, with Harvey advising hikers and pet owners to remain vigilant when exploring rugged areas. “It’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings, especially when hiking with pets,” he noted. “Animals can be unpredictable, and some trails, while beautiful, can pose significant risks.”
The incident serves as a reminder to be cautious when navigating West Vancouver’s wilderness areas, which offer both scenic beauty and inherent dangers.
This report is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, made possible by community support.