John Chomlack rescued a boy, aged twelve, from a mountain ledge at Summerland on 21 March 1979. The child and other boys were exploring for caves when he became stranded. By the time the police and a search-and-rescue team reached them darkness was closing in. Mr. Chomlack, a member of the team volunteered to rappel down from the mountain top and was a few metres above the boy when the shale broke under him and he fell some ten metres. Though losing his helmet, breaking bones in his foot and severely burning his left hand, he nevertheless decided to complete the rescue. He reached the child by traversing several more ledges and instructed him how to use rope and belt before lowering him sixty-five metres to the ground.