CANAAN, N.Y. (WCAX) – A New York man is home safe after New York Environmental Conservation rangers rescued him from a cave.
Officials say the Brooklyn man and his friends were climbing around Merlin’s Cave in Canaan, New York, when he slipped and got stuck in a crevice.
By the time rescuers arrived, the man was hypothermic. They had to remove pieces of the rock surrounding him with a hammer drill.
Eventually, Forest Ranger John Gullen says, the man was able to escape. “He did a phenomenal job staying calm. I don’t know very many people who could stay calm. He was stuck for a total of six hours, unable to move in basically in any direction. For most people, that’s like their worst nightmare. So, he did such a great job keeping a positive attitude,” Gullen said.
Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY and Adirondack Backcountry webpages for more information on staying safe.
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