A coordinated rescue effort successfully saved a man who fell about 100 feet into a natural cavern near Hickory Bush Road in Rosendale.
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, an employee of a tree maintenance company was reportedly clearing land under Central Hudson high-power lines when he was struck by a falling tree limb, which caused him to be swept into the cavern. Two colleagues descended into the cavern to provide initial assistance until professional rescuers arrived.
Authorities were alerted around 11:25am, prompting the immediate response of the Rosendale Police and the Bloomington Fire Department. Upon arrival, they located the worker trapped deep inside the cavern. Additional support was quickly requested, bringing in resources such as Ulster County Emergency Management, the City of Kingston Fire Department Rope Rescue Team, Empress Ambulance, and the Marbletown First Aid Unit.
To help transport personnel and equipment to the remote location, the St. Remy Fire Department provided a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). The Kingston Fire Department’s Rope Rescue Team worked continuously for about 90 minutes to lift the worker and the two co-workers from the cavern.
The injured individual was taken to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for treatment related to the fall.
The Town of Rosendale Police Department, in collaboration with multiple emergency response units, managed the operation.
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