Person found dead at bottom of Devil’s Punchbowl: Hamilton Fire Department

A person was found dead at the Devil's Punchbowl after firefighters responded to a rope rescue call at the upper Stoney Creek gorge Wednesday.

Upon arrival, a person was found at the bottom," assistant deputy fire chief Carla MacDonald said in an email.

Police were at the scene investigating, acting Staff Sgt. Andrew Toms said.

Someone has died," said Toms, noting details of the call - which came in around 5:45 p.m. - or victim wouldn't be shared.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene, Supt. Dave Thompson said.

The Devil's Punchbowl and other waterfalls across Hamilton have become magnets for nature lovers and selfie seekers in recent years.

But the spike in interest has also led to more falls and rope rescues, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, firefighters responded to 16 rope rescue calls, which was an increase from nine in 2019. Many were in waterfall areas like Spencer Gorge in Dundas and the Devil's Punchbowl.

Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com