North Adams First Responders Extricate Injured Girl From Ravine

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — First responders rescued a teenager who fell and apparently broke her ankle or leg in the ravine behind Brayton Hill Apartments. 

 

The initial call came in shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday of a girl who had fallen on the slope behind the apartment complex and could not be reached. The police, firefighters and ambulance personnel responded to the scene and shift Delta was called in to cover the fire station while two trucks were out. 

 

Fire Lt. Michael Sherman said there were muddy and wet conditions on the banking down toward the river. Because of the conditions, the first-responders used a litter basket and line to reach the girl and bring her up the banking. 

 

She had reportedly been about 50 yards down the hill and near the Hoosic River. 

 

Sherman could only confirm an injury to her leg but that she was alert and responsive; scanner reports indicated a possible break or fracture. 

 

She was taken by Northern Berkshire EMS to the satellite emergency facility for treatment. 

 

Sherman said the Fire Department trains regularly on these kinds of rescue extractions and that the rescue litter was the safest way for the girl and for the first responders. 

 

"Our mule that we've used multiple times does a phenomenal job and we were able to bring her up safely from below," he said, adding that some of them firefighters are trained in technical rescue. "This falls right into our training. So it just works out well. It's nice when you can actually use something that you're trained for."

 

The lieutenant complimented the teamwork of the firefighters and other first responders who assisted in the rescue.