A man stranded by todayB次元官网网址檚 collapse of the White Rock pier has been rescued.
A Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter arrived at scene just before 3:30 p.m. and transferred the man to the pierhead B次元官网网址� to cheers from bystanders B次元官网网址� where he was attended to by paramedics before being transferred to hospital.
The pier split in half shortly after 2 p.m. today, leaving one person stranded on the far end.
The storm B次元官网网址� with gusts of up to 100 km/h forecast for the afternoon B次元官网网址� has dealt the 100-year-old structure a vicious beating.
Getting ready for a helicopter rescue
B次元官网网址� Residualimage (@residualimage)
This footage of the rescue is crazy! So happy the man is ok but so sad for our poor pier.
B次元官网网址� South Rock Buzz (@SouthRockBuzz)
READ MORE:
They took out the handrailing, quickly followed by a chunk of the pier deck that continued to expand in size as the minutes passed.
Emergency crews remain on the scene.
B次元官网网址淓very organization we can think ofB次元官网网址� was contacted for assistance with the rescue, White Rock RCMP Const. Chantal Sears told PAN.
B次元官网网址淚 believe we reached out to the U.S. as well.
B次元官网网址淗opefully, the rest of (the pier) is structurally sound until (help arrives.)B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his is a first-time event, ever,B次元官网网址� Donnelly said of the stormB次元官网网址檚 impact.
He said some pieces of the pier drifted as far as the cityB次元官网网址檚 namesake, as did as least one of the sailboats.
dealing with emergent situation at the pier. Marine drive will be shut down until further notice.
B次元官网网址� White Rock RCMP (@WhiteRockRCMP)
pier is broken. Guy is trapped on other side. Boats slammed into it
B次元官网网址� LLA (@leslie0866)
The pier continues to take a beating, as the gap increases
B次元官网网址� Peace Arch B次元官网网址 (@PeaceArchB次元官网网址)
Lower Mainland Yacht Club skipper Jason Johnson said the club maintains six sailboats at the end of the pier, B次元官网网址渁ll of which it appears at this point have been destroyed.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 fortunate that no one was seriously injured out here.B次元官网网址�
Johnson said he has B次元官网网址渘ever seen anything like this.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渁 little bit surreal,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淩eminds me a little bit about the power of the ocean.B次元官网网址�
The pier was officially opened on Nov. 14, 1914. The battering effect of storms in the decades that followed led to the addition of the breakwater in 1953.
The City of White Rock repaired and replaced damaged piles and cross-braces in April 2013; work that was deemed necessary during a 2010 inspection.
White Rock Mayor Darryl Walker said efforts are underway to secure the structure until it is safe to assess the damage.
B次元官网网址淗oly cow, what a mess, what a devastating afternoon,B次元官网网址� Walker told PAN just after 4:30 p.m.
Walker said Marine Drive is closed, as is Buena Vista Avenue between Oxford and Foster streets.
The city issued a news release at 3:15 p.m. Thursday advising of the pierB次元官网网址檚 closure, along with closures of Centennial Park trails and more B次元官网网址渄ue to extreme weather event.B次元官网网址�
Away from the water, a White Rock firefighter said a hydro pole near the the corner of Johnston Street and Royal Avenue was at risk of coming down. Police and firefighters were seen diverting traffic heading south.
White Rock firefighters have just told me that leaning power pole, at the corner of Royal and Johnston, could come down at any moment. Entire block of Johnston is cordoned off.
B次元官网网址� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
Closer to the water, a rotten egg smell near the corner of Fir Street and Victoria Avenue had residents worried about a gas leak.
Power remained on along much of Marine Drive and restaurants near the pier were packed during happy hour.
Walker said updates will continue to be posted to the cityB次元官网网址檚 website () throughout the evening and overnight.
Noting heB次元官网网址檚 been advised of storm damage to some local homes, Walker said the cityB次元官网网址檚 emergency social service centre is up and running at Centennial Arena for anyone in need of the services.
He implored those curious about the impact to the pier, waterfront and other areas to stay away.
B次元官网网址淭his was a very, very strong (storm) and continues to be a very strong storm. People are kind of putting themselves in dangerB次元官网网址� by attempting the visit the sites.
The pier in particular, B次元官网网址渨e donB次元官网网址檛 want anybody getting close,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淪tay away, thatB次元官网网址檚 the message.B次元官网网址�
Despite these crazy waves, and winds, I just heard some teens run by yelling B次元官网网址渓etB次元官网网址檚 get out on the f***king pierB次元官网网址� in White Rock. Needless to say: bad idea.
B次元官网网址� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
But despite waves continuing to crash into the visibly-wobbling pier, at least half a dozen people climbed under the barricade and walked out onto the 100-year-old structure. Some appeared to be nearly at the break in the pier, as it continued to be pummelled by strong winds.
Even after a White Rock RCMP officer headed down to escort people off the pier, a group of teens ran towards it, yelling about how B次元官网网址渟ick the stormB次元官网网址� was.
Despite the damage, Walker was also adamant that the damage does not mean an end for the pier.
B次元官网网址淢ake no mistake it will be here for another 100 years,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲e will not lose that pier. Come hell or high water, weB次元官网网址檒l make sure we have that pier.B次元官网网址�
More to comeB次元官网网址�
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
