Report from State Police, on the Friday night rescue of two teens in the Catskill Creek:
Two Teenagers Stranded in the Middle of a Creek Saved
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Joseph A. TripodoTroop F Commander
PRESS RELEASE
On May 19, 2017, at approximately 7:15 PM, the New York State Police at Catskill, BCI and Uniformed members, responded to a report of two teenagers unable to make it up a trail to the Route 23 overpass of the Catskill Creek. Upon Troopers arrival, they discovered that two teens, one 14 year old and one 15 year old (both from Catskill), were stranded in the middle of the creek clinging to a rock ledge at the edge of an approximately 15 foot waterfall.
State Police requested assistance from the Leeds Fire Department and Greene County Paramedics. Emergency personnel were able to deploy a lifeline across the water in the vicinity of the teens. The 14 year old was able to grab the line and was guided to the shoreline uninjured. The 15 year old then attempted to follow but lost his grip on the line and was swept over the falls into a pool of water below becoming completely submerged.
As he was being carried downstream, a secondary lifeline was deployed which the child was able to grab. As rescuers were pulling him towards shore, he again lost his grip on the line. A medic was able to enter the water in a shallower spot downstream and secure the victim until yet a third line was deployed and was used to successfully extract the medic and child from the water. The 15 year old was transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital to be treated for possible hypothermia and minor injuries.
Athens Fire Department also filed a report on the incident, from their Facebook page:
This evening at approx 19:30 the Athens Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team along with the City of Hudson Dive Team and Greene County Sheriffs dive team was requested M/A to Leeds for 3 victims stuck on the Katterskill Creek Falls located off route 23. Upon our arrival Leeds Fire department had a line deployed to the victims and had successfully removed 2 people. As the swift water team was preparing, the third victim went over the falls but was quickly rescued by a member of the Swift Water Team Using a throw bag. All departments involved worked very well together! Teamwork at its best!