Rope Runner rescue

[RyanH]

So a many of you have probably already seen the YouTube videos of simplified SRT rescue with the Rope Runner

 

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzanEuUuiGk]Rescue One[/ame]

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZmT6ujFCAo]Rescue Two[/ame]

 

 

Very cool. Of course, it's potentially a lot of force on the tie-in point (if it's only in a single crotch,) but it's no big deal if the victim is tied in to a solid point on a strong, structurally sound tree if you ask me.

 

While playing around with this during a rescue training, my co-worker John Davis came up with a variation for rescuing a victim climbing on a doubled rope system. To accomplish this, the rescuer climbs the victim's line, acting as a counterweight. After reaching the victim, the rescuer can package the victim, then disconnect their split tail or eye-to-eye. The rescuer can then lower themselves to the ground. Once on the ground, rescuer can continue to allow rope to pass through the Rope Runner, belaying the packaged victim down to the ground much like a belayer would lower a rock climber. It's fast and efficient for some circumstances, provided the victim can be packaged, is in a lowerable location, and the tie-in point is strong enough to support the weight of two climbers.

 

Thoughts?

[softbankhawks]

Hi Ryan, it is very cool and thanks for posting the video - I always assume multiple varieties of things going wrong, especially in real rescue situations and to me your video doesn't show enough redundancy for the safe belaying of the rescuer. Perhaps a quick link/lanyard connection in case of the rescuers RR release becoming entangled? How does 1 RR fair with 200kg on it? This can't be easily answered with so much disparity in friction between ropes, and then add bollard wear into the mix..? In-air rescue is interesting and there are many variations as I'm sure you know but in all seriousness what are the chances of somebody on an ascent/descent device needing this kind of rescue. Being knocked unconscious in mid-air by a rogue branch perhaps..I'd opt for trunk lower if there is a clear line from the victim to the ground, even if it involves some additional on-the-spot rigging at ground level.