A large emergency response was launched Wednesday afternoon after a group of 71 girls from a Monsey school became lost while exploring underground tunnels in Nyack.
Sources tell Monsey Scoop that the group began at Memorial Park and followed a creek that eventually led them into an underground section. The children reportedly continued exploring for nearly a half-mile, reaching an area near downtown Nyack before becoming confused and unable to find their way back.
After authorities were alerted, emergency responders from Chaverim of Rockland, Orangetown Police, the Nyack Fire Department, Hatzolah EMS of Rockland County, and additional agencies from across Ramapo and neighboring communities responded to assist.
Rescuers worked to ensure all 71 students and their chaperones were safely accounted for. Several individuals were evaluated at the scene for dehydration and exhaustion after spending an extended period walking through the tunnels, but no serious injuries were reported.
Nyack Mayor and Democratic candidate for New York State Senate District 38, Joe Rand, helped coordinate efforts at the scene and later told Monsey Scoop:
“We’re grateful for the work of the Orangetown Police Department, who responded very quickly once they learned there were young girls inside the culvert. The girls entered from Memorial Park and were exploring, which kids do. They wanted to see what they could find and made it almost a half-mile from Memorial Park to the middle of town before becoming alarmed.
Someone discovered they were down there and called 911. Police responded, along with numerous emergency agencies from Ramapo, New Square, and surrounding communities. We’re very grateful they came down to help, and especially grateful to the Orangetown Police Department.
Nobody was seriously hurt, nobody was lost, everyone has been accounted for, and everything is fine now. We’re thankful for the hard work of all the responders and very glad these children are okay.”
All members of the group were ultimately located and safely escorted out, bringing the incident to a successful conclusion. Officials credited the coordinated efforts of first responders and local leaders for helping ensure a safe outcome for everyone involved.
What an amazing rescue effort. The coordination between so many agencies and volunteers is truly commendable. Thankfully, everyone is safe, and that’s the best possible ending to this unexpected adventure.
Reminds me of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein, genius has it’s limits, but stupidity is not so handicapped .
These Bais Yaakov deserve a bracha.
Bravery and stupidity come from the same place and with success it is called bravery and failure is called stupidity. The action does not decide, it is the outcome.
G-d was with them and always will be.
There is so much wrong with this entire scenario I don’t know where to begin first. How old are the chaperones? How on earth do responsible adults think it is okay to first of all allow children into tunnels, not to mention accompany them?
If the article is accurate, it was not a handful of girls but 71!? Complete lack of common sense on the parts of those in charge. Did not one person think, hey, this is not a good idea?
Anything to do with chabad 770 tunnels?
Completely irresponsible on the schools part. They should apologize to those who risked their lives to make sure they came home safe.
This is ludicrous that SEVENTY+ young kids would end up in this predicament. There had to be some (most) that were scared to death but just blindly followed the crowd. Hope the parents are outraged and demand some kind of assurance that this will never happen again.
Very strange. If these are not jewish children it may have a strong correlation with 100% of the Thai ag workers in israel
There is a stepping-stone tunnel in Nyack Memorial Park that is open to visitors. The girls somehow became lost after entering the tunnel.
No one discovered them or contacted the police. The girls realized they were lost after wandering for approximately 45 minutes, even though they had been told the walk should only take about 15 minutes.
After realizing they were lost, two of the girls opened a sewer cover and emerged into someone’s backyard. The homeowner, alarmed by the situation, began chasing the girls. They ran away and eventually encountered a police officer, who came to their assistance and contacted the emergency response team.
There were 41 girls involved, not 71.
Yo what
Where were the chaperones??!!