BLOOMINGTON, N.Y. — A tree worker was rescued on Wednesday after falling 100 feet into a “natural crevice” off Hickory Bush Road in the Rosendale hamlet, authorities said.
At about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, the worker was clearing trees in the area when a limb broke off and knocked him to his feet causing him to slide down into what police called a natural crevice, Assistant Fire Chief Mike Schabot said.
“The individual, who had been working with a tree company clearing the area along the Central Hudson high-power-lines, is believed to have been struck and swept into the cavern by a falling limb,” Rosendale police said in a Facebook post. Police Chief Scott Schaffrick said the crevice was initially thought to be an abandoned mine shaft but was determined to be a natural split in the rock.
The man suffered a serious leg injury and a side injury requiring further evaluation, Schabot said. He was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie.
The unidentified worker was treated while in the crevice by two coworkers who went in using their tree climbing gear before the arrival of first responders and by members of the Bloomington Fire Department, who also went in to assist him, Schabot said. The man was packaged and removed in a litter basket by members of the Kingston Fire Department Rope Rescue Team.
The St. Remy Fire Department also responded with an additional utility terrain vehicle to transport the Kingston Rope Rescue Team and equipment, Schaffrick said.
“After approximately 90 minutes of continuous work by the Kingston Fire Department team, the subject was successfully lifted from the crevice along with the two rescuers,” Schaffrick said.
“The whole time he was being treated by EMS personnel that went down into the hole with him. All of the rescuers from ( Kingston Fire Department) are EMTs,” Schabot said.
Schabot said all units were back in service by 2:15 p.m.
“It was a good rescue,” Schaffrick said in a text message.
“The Town of Rosendale Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the Bloomington Fire Department, the City of Kingston Fire Department — particularly the Rope Rescue Team — Ulster County Emergency Management, the St. Remy Fire Department, Empress Ambulance, and the Marbletown First Aid Unit for their outstanding teamwork and dedication to ensuring a safe and successful rescue,” the police department posted.
Bloomington firefighters, Rosendale police, Kingston’s Rope Rescue Team and the St. Remy Fire Department were also assisted at the scene by the Marbletown Rescue and Empress Ambulance.
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