A man swept down two waterfalls after slipping on a rock Friday at Sol Duc Hot Springs was rescued that evening.

At 5:36 p.m. on Friday, May 20, Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue responded to the Olympic National Park Sol Duc Hot Springs. A 30-year-old male had walked out on some rocks just above the Sol Duc Falls, slipped on a rock and was swept down the waterfall; he then went under a log and down another waterfall, finally pulling himself out of the river, according to a press release.

The victim was located about 70 feet down a steep embankment .8 mile from the trailhead. Clallam 2 EMTs and a paramedic arrived on the scene with medical gear and high-angle rescue equipment. They immediately sent high-angle-trained EMT Nate Thompson down to the injured male with space blankets, other blankets and some medical equipment so they could get a status and vitals on the man.

Keeping the victim warm was one of their biggest concerns; his initial vitals were good, according to the press release from Mike DeRousie, Clallam 2 assistant chief.

Park rangers arrived on the scene with more rescue equipment, including portable lighting from the Clallam County Emergency Operations Center. Olympic Mountain Rescue was confirmed to be en route from Bremerton for victim extrication. Airlift North West was put on standby for possible transport.

Park ranger Brian Bell lowered some more medical equipment, a sleeping bag and a camp stove to the EMT to keep the victim warm.

Olympic Mountain Rescue arrived on the scene, rigged up the litter basket and descended down the embankment; the rest of the crew then pulled them all up. Once back up the embankment, the park rangers placed a wheel under the litter basket, wheeled the victim along the trail, where Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue transported the man to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.

There were no injuries to the extraction team, and crew members were back at the trailhead at 3 a.m., May 21.