A Norman firefighter who in recent years survived a bout with cancer died in a rock-climbing incident at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Emergency responders were called to the refuge on Friday, September 22nd, where two rock climbers were trapped. At the time we were told one of them suffered a medical emergency.
Levi Wilkins’ wife and the Norman Fire Department took to social media Saturday, confirming his death.
According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, around 12 p.m. on Friday, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Staff, Indiahoma Volunteer Fire Department, Cache Fire Department, Lawton Fire Department, Comanche Nation Fire Department, and Fort Sill Fire Department responded to the report of a climber who had suffered a fall near the Narrows Trail.
At approximately 1:12 pm, first responders initiated a high angle rescue operation to rescue two climbers, one of whom appeared to have suffered a medical emergency, according to FWS.
“It’s difficult to express just how hard it hit when we learned of Levi’s passing,” the Norman Fire Department wrote. “A few years ago, he courageously battled cancer and came out stronger on the other side. He lived life to the fullest every day and everyone who knew him, loved him.”
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