The Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho — A rock climber whose long hair became entangled in a rappelling device while she was descending a 65-foot cliff had to be rescued by firefighters, who also gave her a slight haircut, authorities said.

Steve Rasulo, a Boise Fire Department battalion chief, said the woman was descending the rock face near the Boise River on Sunday evening when her hair got caught, leaving her stuck about 20 feet off the ground for about a half hour.

Mike Blach, Ada County Paramedics field supervisor, said the woman was not injured, though she was still shaking an hour after the incident. The woman, who firefighters said had loosely braided hair to the middle of her back, declined to give her name or age.

Firefighters said one of three men climbing with her tried to help but ended up with his shirt stuck in his rappelling device. He freed himself by tearing his shirt. They then called 911.

Rasulo said a Boise firefighter rappelled down the cliff next to the woman, attached her system to his, cut off a small section of her hair, and then descended safely to the ground.

Blach said the woman needed several minutes to recover.

"When you're stuck in a harness like that, your legs go numb, and it's painful," he told the Idaho Statesman.

Rasulo said Sunday's call for help was about the third incident in the last few years where firefighters responded because someone's hair got caught in their climbing gear. He said helmets could help prevent those problems.

"We enjoy a lot of climbing in the Boise area, but a lot of people don't wear helmets," Rasulo said. "A helmet could have made a huge difference in a lot of these calls."