By Ian Holmes

‘He’s extremely lucky:’ narrow ledge stops man’s fall down steep embankment

Sep 5, 2018 | 6:59 PM

NANAIMO — A serious fall could have been much worse for a man who fell down a steep embankment in the backyard of a north Nanaimo home.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue deputy chief Martin Drakeley said the man was working on a 200-foot staircase behind a Bayshore Dr. home late Wednesday afternoon when he lost his footing. Drakeley said the man fell roughly 60 feet and suffered a badly broken leg.

“There’s a small two-foot-by-three-foot landing and he landed on it,” Drakely told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Otherwise it’s another 150 feet down to the beach.”

Drakeley said the landing area also happened to be flat, which worked in the man’s favour.

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Drakeley said BC Ambulance Service personnel called on firefighters for technical assistance to help hoist the man onto a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance.

“He didn’t lose consciousness, he doesn’t have a head injury. He’s extremely lucky. I just can’t explain how lucky he is.”

Drakeley said it’s not clear how the man fell or if he was a homeowner or contractor.

Several emergency vehicles lining Bayshore Dr. closed traffic between Norasea Rd. and Oceanview Terr. for about an hour-and-a-half early Wednesday evening.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes