A man stranded by today鈥檚 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 鈥� to cheers from bystanders 鈥� 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 鈥� with gusts of up to 100 km/h forecast for the afternoon 鈥� has dealt the 100-year-old structure a vicious beating.
Getting ready for a helicopter rescue
鈥� Residualimage (@residualimage)
This footage of the rescue is crazy! So happy the man is ok but so sad for our poor pier.
鈥� 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.
鈥淓very organization we can think of鈥� was contacted for assistance with the rescue, White Rock RCMP Const. Chantal Sears told PAN.
鈥淚 believe we reached out to the U.S. as well.
鈥淗opefully, the rest of (the pier) is structurally sound until (help arrives.)鈥�
鈥淭his is a first-time event, ever,鈥� Donnelly said of the storm鈥檚 impact.
He said some pieces of the pier drifted as far as the city鈥檚 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.
鈥� White Rock RCMP (@WhiteRockRCMP)
pier is broken. Guy is trapped on other side. Boats slammed into it
鈥� LLA (@leslie0866)
The pier continues to take a beating, as the gap increases
鈥� Peace Arch News (@PeaceArchNews)
Lower Mainland Yacht Club skipper Jason Johnson said the club maintains six sailboats at the end of the pier, 鈥渁ll of which it appears at this point have been destroyed.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 fortunate that no one was seriously injured out here.鈥�
Johnson said he has 鈥渘ever seen anything like this.鈥�
It鈥檚 鈥渁 little bit surreal,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eminds me a little bit about the power of the ocean.鈥�
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.
鈥淗oly cow, what a mess, what a devastating afternoon,鈥� 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 pier鈥檚 closure, along with closures of Centennial Park trails and more 鈥渄ue to extreme weather event.鈥�
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.
鈥� 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 city鈥檚 website () throughout the evening and overnight.
Noting he鈥檚 been advised of storm damage to some local homes, Walker said the city鈥檚 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.
鈥淭his was a very, very strong (storm) and continues to be a very strong storm. People are kind of putting themselves in danger鈥� by attempting the visit the sites.
The pier in particular, 鈥渨e don鈥檛 want anybody getting close,鈥� he said.
鈥淪tay away, that鈥檚 the message.鈥�
Despite these crazy waves, and winds, I just heard some teens run by yelling 鈥渓et鈥檚 get out on the f***king pier鈥� in White Rock. Needless to say: bad idea.
鈥� 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 鈥渟ick the storm鈥� was.
Despite the damage, Walker was also adamant that the damage does not mean an end for the pier.
鈥淢ake no mistake it will be here for another 100 years,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e will not lose that pier. Come hell or high water, we鈥檒l make sure we have that pier.鈥�
More to come鈥�
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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