| During the flooding condition of Hurricane Irene, the Croton River, which is fed by the Croton Dam, became so swollen, that class 5 rapids quickly formed along the majority of the river.
Five men and an inflatable raft ventured out to try and raft down the extremely turbulent and fast moving river. Approximately 1/2 a mile down the river, their boat overturned and the men were tossed into the river in class 5 rapids and water moving at close to 45mph.
Croton Police and Fire were dispatched to Mayo's landing, with reports a raft floating down the river, and it soon became apparent that multiple persons were still trapped in the water. Croton Car 2083 immediately requested Yorktown's Swift Water rescue team, and Rescue 55 along with Rescue Boat 55 and 56 were en route moments later.
While responding, Croton's 12' aluminum boat, filled with 3 firefighters, overturned in the river while attempting to gain access to one of the victims, tossing 3 of their firemen into the water, and eventually taking them out to the Hudson river where they were able to swim to shore.
Rescue 55 arrived on scene as Croton PD were pulling up onto the boat launch with 1 victim in cardiac arrest. 55's personnel assisted in moving the victim to awaiting EMS, and then quickly launched their 18' inflatable rescue boat, Rescue Boat 55, to try and reach the 5th victim who was unaccounted for. Rescue boat 55 had little difficulty making up the extremely turbulent river in class 3 and 4 rapids, and arrived at Fireman's Island to preform a search along the shore where class 5 rapids had formed upriver. After an in water search was performed, it was learned that the victim was approximately 100' upriver, and 50- 100 feet off shore, clinging to a tree in rapidly rising waters, from where rescue personnel could effect a rescue attempt. Yorktown's Rescue team then became the down river safety's for the county rescue team as they attempted to remove the victim. After 3 hours, and numerous rescue attempts to remove the victim, Rescue Personnel were devising a plan on how to remove the victim, when he lost his grip on the tree and was sent down river.
Rescue boat 55 attempted to grab the victim, but he was moving too fast to effect a safe rescue, and was later picked up by Croton PD's marine unit at the opening of the Hudson river. At this time, the sun had completely set, and units were operating in completely blackout conditions. Rescue boat 55, and County Tech Rescue boat 77, then had to wait for an aviation unit to provide a spot light to safely navigate the river back to Mayo's landing to exit the river. NYPD aviation arrived, and lit the way safely home for the two units. |
