A man stranded by today91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� to cheers from bystanders 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� with gusts of up to 100 km/h forecast for the afternoon 91裸聊视频� has dealt the 100-year-old structure a vicious beating.
Getting ready for a helicopter rescue
91裸聊视频� Residualimage (@residualimage)
This footage of the rescue is crazy! So happy the man is ok but so sad for our poor pier.
91裸聊视频� South Rock Buzz (@SouthRockBuzz)
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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.
91裸聊视频淓very organization we can think of91裸聊视频� was contacted for assistance with the rescue, White Rock RCMP Const. Chantal Sears told PAN.
91裸聊视频淚 believe we reached out to the U.S. as well.
91裸聊视频淗opefully, the rest of (the pier) is structurally sound until (help arrives.)91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭his is a first-time event, ever,91裸聊视频� Donnelly said of the storm91裸聊视频檚 impact.
He said some pieces of the pier drifted as far as the city91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频� White Rock RCMP (@WhiteRockRCMP)
pier is broken. Guy is trapped on other side. Boats slammed into it
91裸聊视频� LLA (@leslie0866)
The pier continues to take a beating, as the gap increases
91裸聊视频� Peace Arch News (@PeaceArchNews)
Lower Mainland Yacht Club skipper Jason Johnson said the club maintains six sailboats at the end of the pier, 91裸聊视频渁ll of which it appears at this point have been destroyed.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 fortunate that no one was seriously injured out here.91裸聊视频�
Johnson said he has 91裸聊视频渘ever seen anything like this.91裸聊视频�
It91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渁 little bit surreal,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淩eminds me a little bit about the power of the ocean.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淗oly cow, what a mess, what a devastating afternoon,91裸聊视频� 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 pier91裸聊视频檚 closure, along with closures of Centennial Park trails and more 91裸聊视频渄ue to extreme weather event.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频� 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 city91裸聊视频檚 website () throughout the evening and overnight.
Noting he91裸聊视频檚 been advised of storm damage to some local homes, Walker said the city91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淭his was a very, very strong (storm) and continues to be a very strong storm. People are kind of putting themselves in danger91裸聊视频� by attempting the visit the sites.
The pier in particular, 91裸聊视频渨e don91裸聊视频檛 want anybody getting close,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淪tay away, that91裸聊视频檚 the message.91裸聊视频�
Despite these crazy waves, and winds, I just heard some teens run by yelling 91裸聊视频渓et91裸聊视频檚 get out on the f***king pier91裸聊视频� in White Rock. Needless to say: bad idea.
91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渟ick the storm91裸聊视频� was.
Despite the damage, Walker was also adamant that the damage does not mean an end for the pier.
91裸聊视频淢ake no mistake it will be here for another 100 years,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淲e will not lose that pier. Come hell or high water, we91裸聊视频檒l make sure we have that pier.91裸聊视频�
More to come91裸聊视频�
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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