Injured Hiker Rescued From New Jersey Waterfall
ALPINE, N.J. (CBSNewYork)-- A 17-year-old boy survived a death-defying fall Monday afternoon after tumbling 30 feet down a waterfall while swinging from a tree in Palisades State Park.
CBS2's Dick Brennan was at the Alpine boat basin as the teen was taken off a rescue boat. He appeared to be a bit dazed and in pain.
Police said they got a call around 4:30 p.m. alerting them that someone had slipped off Peanut Falls, which is near the state line lookout. First responders from several towns raced to the scene.
"We saw helicopters. We knew something was going on," kayaker Lisa Fried said. "We saw people looking over the cliff and we kept saying they look really close. And I guess they heard something was going on."
It took roughly 90 minutes to reach and rescue the teenager. A rappel team from Closter took the lead and said he remained alert and conscious.
It's possible the trails were slippery from the rain. The victim was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center.
Officials said rescuing him was extremely tricky because he had internal injuries that left him unable to move. The hiker's name has not been released.