'One of the most challenging rescues': Firefighters rescue hiker who fell more than 50 feet

Volunteer firefighters in Pawling are receiving community support after performing a major rescue on Tuesday.

News 12 Staff

May 20, 2021, 9:29 PM

Updated 1,315 days ago

Share:

Volunteer firefighters in Pawling are receiving community support after performing a major rescue on Tuesday.
News 12 is told a woman fell more than 50 feet while hiking near the Cat Rocks on the Appalachian trail. Ultimately, she was rescued by the Pawling Fire Department.
Deputy Fire Chief Chris Greene calling the rescue “one of the toughest rescues anyone in our firehouse has ever done.”
Fire Chief Everett White, who’s led the department for a decade, tells News 12, "It's one of the most challenging rescues since I've been chief.”
Officials described the trail the hiker fell from as a steep and narrow one and only able to reach her by foot.
"It took a huge effort by all of our firefighters who really left it all out there. They went above and beyond. They didn't want to stop. They didn't want to take a rest,” says White.
The men trekked a mile, up 600 feet of elevation to rescue the woman. Once saved, they were tasked with safely walking a mile back with her before she was flown to the hospital.
"We had a job to do, and we got it done,” says Greene.
Since then, the volunteer department says they’ve received tons of support online, and answer every call because they love what they do and the community.
"Our guys love this town and they'll do anything they can to help out and they showed that on Tuesday,” says White.
Although we’re told the hiker is in stable condition, law enforcement is not releasing further information about the hiker or the incident at this time.