BASE jumper rescued from B.C. mountain

A BASE jumper was rescued from the Stawamus Chief Mountain in Squamish, B.C., on Monday afternoon.

The man had parachuted from the peak of the 700-metre granite monolith, about 50 kilometres north of Vancouver, when he got stuck on the rock face.

A helicopter spotted the stranded jumper early Monday morning, police said.

The man secured himself on a ledge while waiting for rescuers, police said.

Search and rescue crews rappelled down the mountain to help the man down. Police said he did not appear injured.

BASE jumping involves parachuting from a fixed point, such a high building or cliff. The sport is illegal in many urban areas.

The Stawamus Chief, referred to locally as The Chief, is a popular hiking and rock-climbing destination.

The mountain, which overlooks nearby Howe Sound, is also popular among BASE jumpers, who parachute down the cliff face from the rock's peak.

This is the second such incident at the mountain in the last month.

On July 14, rescue crews had to rappel down the mountain to rescue another stranded BASE jumper. At the time, a search and rescue team member told CBC News it was legal to BASE jump off The Chief.

That man, who refused to speak to reporters, was taken to hospital with an ankle injury.