By Heather Appel
The Herald News (Passaic County, NJ)
PATERSON, N.J. — The rescue of a 15-year-old who fell nearly 50 feet while climbing the rocks near the Great Falls on Sunday involved 18 fire department officials, in addition to EMTs and emergency responders from the Paterson police and Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, said Deputy Fire Chief Scott MacGilvray on Monday.
The 15-year-old was believed to be in critical condition Monday at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.
At the request of the family, the hospital would not release his name or any updates on his condition.
A passer-by flagged down paramedics from St. Joseph’s and reported that someone had fallen off a cliff and was injured down by the falls, MacGilvray said.
Fire officials were notified around 8:20 p.m. Sunday.
When they arrived they found the boy with lacerations to the back of his head and his body.
He had difficulty breathing, possibly because of a chest injury, the deputy fire chief said.
To get to the teenager, rescuers had to wade into the water and around a rock protruding from the base of the chasm.
The site was about a quarter mile from the road. Because of a threat of spinal injuries, rescuers placed the boy on a backboard.
Then, to avoid getting him wet, they transported him in a boat to the shore, where he was then carried down the river bank.
MacGilvray said there apparently were other teenagers with him, but they were not injured.
He didn’t recall any similar incidents of people attempting to climb the rocks at the falls, even though there is no fence to keep people away.
Paterson police said there is no investigation taking place at this time.
Copyright 2008, The Herald News (Passaic County, NJ)