Brian Gurney Seriously injured in Fall at Pilchuck Falls.

 

Lake Cavanaugh, WA:  Brian Gurney, 19, of  Burlington, Washington  was hiking with friends on the afternoon of Friday, August 8th,  at Pilchuck falls when the group  attempted to walk down to the falls area.  Gurney lost his footing and fell approximately 90-100 feet. Early reports say his friends immediately called for help and other hikers in the area provided first aid until rescuers arrived.

Multiple rescue agencies responded including: Skagit County Mountain Rescue, Skagit County Sheriff’s Volunteer  Search and Rescue, Officers from the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Lake McMurray Volunteer Fire Department, Big Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Skagit County EMS and AirLift Northwest.   Mr.  Gurney was rescued using a rigging system to bring him back up the hill and to Lake Cavanaugh Road  and Highway 9. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle from that location.

David Bricka, the uncle to Brian Gurney or “Gurndizzle” as he is nicknamed,  has been providing regular updates on Gurneys condition on his Facebook page. Several of Gurney’s friends have organized fundraisers to help his family with medical expenses. Mr. Gurney is a Proud Burlington Edison Tiger and was an ASB Officer and the  Homecoming Prince.  He was the Pledge of the Year last year of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at WSU where he was preparing to assist with the annual “Rush Week.” Many of his Beta brothers have kept vigil by his bed side. Our family is overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support for this kid. He touched so many in his life. He was employed at Holland Library on campus. He was  preparing to go back to Washington State University for his sophomore year of school, when he fell.  According to  Mr. Bricka’s Facebook updates, Brian had Brain Surgery and his family  is in  a waiting game to see if there are any long term affects from the fall.

There is  a medical fund established on Brian’s behalf at Skagit Bank. You can go into any branch and make a deposit for Brian Gurney. There is also a gofundme account that has been started by Derek Nodolf.  You can donate online.  The link can be found here   http://www.gofundme.com/cwgzy4

The First  fundraiser for “Gurndizzle”  starts at 7 pm and goes until 9 pm  at  Common Ground Coffee House, on Thursday August 14th, 2014. Common Ground is  located at 351 Pease Road in Burlington Washington.  There will be a pie eating contest, a Brian Gurney quiz and posters and cards that you can write notes on for Brian.  Attendees are asked to bring photos that you might have of Brian,  for a photo board. The event is Free to Attend, and the organizers are collecting donations for the Brian Gurney Medical fund. 

There is a second  fundraiser at Cafe Burlington and Catering on Tuesday August 19th. The Cafe is located at 331 E. Fairhaven Avenue in Burlington, Washington.  Here is an event poster for the fundraiser: 100% of the days proceeds will go to the Brian Gurney medical fund.

 

 

This is the  the second serious incident at Pilchuck Falls in six weeks. On June 28, Skagit County Search and Rescue volunteer J.B. Bryson, 62, of Sedro-Woolley, died during a rescue attempt for a man who had attempted to reach his friend, Peder Trettevik, 25, from Stanwood, after Trettevik had fallen about 100 to 150 feet.  Bryson also fell in the same area while clearing brush so other rescuers could reach the man and recover Trettevik’s body.

**EDITORS NOTES** These two serious injury incidents are just two of many over the last several years.  People may not know it but Pilchuck Falls is located on Private Property, not public lands as many believe.  The land owners do not want people to be on the property and anyone that goes out there is trespassing.  The land owners have stepped up security in the area and it will be patrolled for trespassers. Trespassers face the possibility of fines and being arrested if they are caught on the private property.