Crews have successfully rescued a man who was trapped 40-foot below the surface in Singhampton.
Clearview Fire and Emergency Services announced on Sunday morning that 30-year-old Seth Rowe was extricated from the cavern after working on freeing the man for more than 12 hours.
Gilbert McInnis was hiking in the area known as the Nottawasaga Bluffs and just happened to hear the man’s call for help around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. McInnis called 911 after locating the man in the crevice.
“It surprised me; it was like where is that voice coming from? It wasn't a loud voice, like you were talking. It was kind of muffled,” says McInnis. “I said ‘wait a second there is something going on’, then I could hear him yelling from down below.”
Clearview firefighters responded first, and then a specially trained technical rescue team from Barrie fire arrived to assist. But the man was wedged more than 40-feet down and the gap in the rock was barely eight inches wide. After working all night without success, another specially trained team from the Toronto Fire Department was called to help.
It's not clear exactly how long the man was trapped beforehand, but his family lost contact with him around noon on Saturday.
The conservation area is a popular spot with hikers. It features large limestone cliffs and crevices along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. The man was exploring the crevices when he got stuck.
The Clearview Township man was not seriously injured, but it was extremely cold because there is still snow and ice in the caves. Firefighters managed to get him food, water and some blankets while rescue efforts continued. He was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.
On Sunday morning, rescuers started chipping away the rock with hammer drills to create space needed to get the man out.
“It was very stressful and we didn't know how it was all going to go, but it was a sigh of relief when he came up that's for sure,” says Justin Saugh, a family friend.
Clearview fire Chief Colin Shewell says this was the most challenging rescue he has encountered in 20 years of firefighting. He credits the hikers for locating the man and cooperation between the different rescue teams for saving Rowe’s life.
“At this point it looks like a good news story, it was a unified command with all of our partners, Simcoe County EMS, Barrie fire, Toronto fire; it all gelled. It all came together and I am happy to say it was a happy ending,” says Clearview Fire Chief Colin Shewell.
The Ontario Mine Rescue Unit from Sudbury and the Heavy Urban Rescue Unit form Toronto were also dispatched to assist on Sunday, but were turned around when the man was pulled from the crevice.
