Incredible North Shore mountain rescue caught on video

A climber who was stuck overnight on Crown Mountain with his injured partner captured their morning helicopter rescue on camera.

Serguei Okountsevand his female climbing partner had reached the mountain summit and were on their way back down when his partner fell roughly 45 metres into a gully in the Widowmaker area.

North Shore Rescue was alerted just after dark on Feb.12.A ground team was deployed immediately to hike the estimated five hours to find the pair, according to Jeff Yarnold with NSR.

The ground crew located the climbers and stayed with them until first light when a helicopter could arrive on scene.

The female climber's injuries included a broken ankle, fractured finger, cut face and possible rib fractures.

"If they hadn't been able to get herpackaged properly and warm she might not have made it through the night," said Yarnold.

The helicopter arrived around 7a.m., according to NSR, and the rescue happened in two stages.

Yarnoldsaid two rescuers swung in from the helicopter on long lines to the injured female's location, buthe was then dropped off withOkountsev, who had to be relocated for rescue away from his partner because of the terrain.

The female climber and three rescuers were flown out beforethe helicopter returned for Okountsev and Yarnold.

The rescue was completed by roughly 9a.m., said Yarnold.

The Hanes Valley area where the pairwereclimbing is closed to the public in winter.

"It's scary terrain and things can happen there in the blink of an eye," said Yarnold. "It puts otherpeoplein jeopardy having to go in there and conduct rescues."

Feb.12 was the B.C. Family Day holiday.

NSRteam leader, Mike Dankssaid his crews were dispatched to eight rescue callsthat day, makingitthe busiest Family Day for NSRto date.