Ten state Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers rescued two people injured by falling ice at Kaaterskill Falls in Hunter, in Greene County, prompting winter safety warnings to New Yorkers.
Forest rangers responded to a call of a subject struck in the head by falling ice at the bottom of the falls just before 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the DEC.
"Within 20 minutes, Rangers were alerted to a second victim injured by the same chunk of ice," DEC said.
Rangers reached the subjects and performed an "ice injury extraction" on a 29-year-old woman from Brooklyn, who they wheeled to a Hunter ambulance on Laurel House Road, DEC said.
“We knew this patient sustained a potential very serious injury, potentially a very serious back injury, all things that we need to get checked out as soon as possible,” state Forest Ranger Seamus Peterson said.
The second subject walked out on their own.
Visitors to Kaaterskill Falls in the winter should use micro spikes and to stay aware of overhead ice, and more generally, properly prepare and plan before entering backcountry areas, DEC said.
Assisting with the three-hour wilderness rescue were members of the Greene County Paramedics, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Tannersville Rescue and Twin Cloves Rescue.
Forest rangers can be reached at 833-NYS-RANGERS, though people requiring urgent assistance should call 911.
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