The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
New Haven emergency crews rescue person who fell from cliff
NEW HAVEN — A 34year-old man had to be rescued after falling almost 200 feet down a cliff in East Rock Park on Saturday, officials said.
The New Haven Fire Department responded to the scene around noon Saturday along with the police, officials said.
Fire crews performed a high angle rope rescue from the summit of East Rock Park. According to a Facebook post from the fire department, rescue crews were able to descend down the cliff and find the person who fell.
New Haven’s Director of Emergency Operations Rick Fontana said the rescue operation was very difficult and dangerous.
“It was difficult for them to locate him at first,” Fontana said.
Once rescuers reached the victim, they administered emergency care while still on the side of the cliff.
“He was alert and oriented,”
Fontana said.
The man was then secured, hoisted up to the summit and brought to Yale New Haven Hospital.
Fontana said the man suffered “serious lowerextremity injuries.” He added that he considers the victim to be “very lucky.”
“It certainly could have been a very tragic incident,” Fontana said.
Police are still investigating the incident.