Chaverim Of Rockland Search and Rescue teams carried out a woods rescue Sunday after an injured hiker became unable to safely make his way out on his own.
The hiker reported that his knee had buckled while walking in a wooded area near Rockland County. Despite significant pain, he initially hoped to continue limping out and contacted rescuers to determine whether there was a faster or shorter route back.
As Chaverim Of Rockland Search and Rescue teams worked to pinpoint his exact location, the hiker sent a GPS image shortly before his phone battery died. During continued communication, he reported that his knee felt as though it was grinding whenever he placed weight on it.
Although the hiker initially wanted to continue walking with the help of two sticks, rescuers determined that doing so could worsen the injury. Chaverim personnel convinced him to stop moving and remain in place until Search and Rescue teams could reach him.
Once crews arrived, the steep terrain and the hiker’s condition made a walkout unsafe. Chaverim Of Rockland Search and Rescue teams placed him into a specialized rescue stretcher designed for difficult terrain and carried him out of the woods.
The hiker was successfully brought out without further incident. Despite the painful knee injury, there was no obvious dislocation or other visible trauma, and he declined an ambulance and additional medical attention following the rescue.
