A Saugerties man who tried to rescue his girlfriend’s dog from a cliff above the Esopus Creek last night ended up requiring help from the police and local fire departments in a dramatic rope rescue.
At 6:56 p.m. Thursday evening, Saugerties Police responded to a 911 call at 90 Dock St.
Upon arrival, officers found that Brett M. Baschnagel, 25, of Ulster Ave., Saugerties, was attempting to rescue his girlfriend’s dog from the side of a cliff. The canine had managed to get part way down the cliff and was trapped, not able to get back up or down the ledge.
While attempting to rescue the dog, Bashnagel himself became trapped on the side of the cliff. High Angle Rescue Rope Teams from the Saugerties Fire Department and Centerville Fire Department were dispatched to the scene. Marine units were dispatched from the Glasco Fire Department and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office to assist in the rescue effort, as the Esopus Creek ran directly under the cliff.
Rope Rescue Teams were able to extract Baschnagel from the cliff, repelling him down to awaiting marine units on the Esopus.
Paramedics from Diaz Ambulance assisted at the scene. Neither, Bashnagel or the dog sustained any injuries as a result of the incident.