The climber critically injured Tuesday while rappelling in Boulder Canyon was not attached to his rope when he fell about 100 feet, rescuers said Wednesday.
Andrew Tysinger, 23, of Boulder, appeared to have been preparing to rappel on the “Boulderado” crag at about 8:25 p.m. when he fell from the top of the ridge without being fastened to the rope, said Ted Krieger, a member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.
“The rope appeared to be set up for a rappel. All the anchors were good,” Krieger said. “He fell from the top. It did not appear that he was yet rappelling.”
Krieger estimated that Tysinger fell 100 feet before landing in the westbound lane of Colo. 119, near the 32 mile marker. Boulder County sheriff’s officials originally estimated the fall at 120 feet.
Tysinger, who was showing his girlfriend how to rappel, was not wearing a helmet, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Lance Enholm. He was airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition, according to hospital officials.
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