South
Burlington Fire Department
575
Dorset St.
South
Burlington, VT 05403
846-4134
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2014
At 13:40 hrs., South Burlington fire Department received a
911 call from an unidentified male requesting help for a friend who had fallen
off a cliff while walking along the Winooski River behind Berard Dr. Firefighters from South Burlington Fire and
VTANG were dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, Firefighters went on to the railroad bridge to
be better visualize the areas along the river’s North and South banks. Firefighters were able to make contact with
two males on the north side of the river.
They stated that they had called for help, as one of the pair had
slipped and fallen approximately 30 feet into the river, and sustained numerous
injuries. The uninjured male had climbed
down to his injured friend and pulled him out of the river on to a small ledge.
As the patient was actually situated close to the
Colchester/Winooski town line, both agencies were notified of the rescue.
Colchester Technical Rescue was contacted to provide water rescue over watch
for the patient and rescuers.
Members of South
Burlington Fire Department (SBFD) and Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG)
Fire/Rescue Special Operations teams set up redundant high angle rescue systems
that allowed several South Burlington firefighters to repel down to the
patient. There they found a 22 y.o.
male, who had sustained multiple injuries from his fall, but was conscious and
oriented.
The condition of the cliff’s friable rock face and the small
ledge at water’s edge were very precarious.
Firefighters determined that the safest evacuation route for the patient
would be over water. Colchester Technical Rescue’s Zodiac inflatable boat
retrieved and transported the patient to the Berard Drive GMP boat access. The
patient was transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC) by Burlington
Rescue-1.
Saint Michael’s Fire/Rescue and Colchester Rescue provided
logistical support at the scene, and Williston Fire Department covered all
other emergencies in the City while rescue operations were on going. The incident was completed at 15:51 hrs.
In all, 25 firefighters
from six agencies work together, seamlessly to successfully complete this
rescue.
Agencies involved:
South Burlington Fire Department, Vermont Air National Guard
Fire/Rescue, Burlington Fire Department, Colchester Technical Rescue,
Colchester Rescue, and St. Michael’s Fire/Rescue.
For further
Information contact: Deputy Chief Terence
Francis 802-363-4656
END
