Climber ‘struck by falling rocks’ dies as rescuers race to reach him, Wyoming cops say
A climber died as rescuers tried to reach him after his head was “struck by falling rocks,” according to a Wyoming sheriff’s office.
Andrew Evans, 32, of Red Lodge, Montana, was stranded about 400 feet from the “Gardner Headwall on the Beartooth Highway” after becoming injured on Friday, July 14, the Park County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 18 Facebook post.
Agencies from Montana and Wyoming responded to try and quickly reach Evans, who was also a “member of the Carbon County Search and Rescue,” deputies said.
“Crews worked diligently” to reach him, deputies said. However, Evans, who was wearing a helmet, died from his injuries before rescuers could arrive.
Efforts shifted from a “life saving mission” to a recovery, deputies said.
As a helicopter would not be available until the next day, the sheriff’s office said it decided to send a ground team to recover Evans’ body.
His body was taken to a nearby parking lot, where the county coroner was waiting, deputies said. His cause of death was ruled blunt force head trauma.
Beartooth Highway runs along the border of Montana and Wyoming.
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