On the evening of Dec. 13, a 20-year-old New Jersey hiker sent an SOS signal from Panther Mountain, a 3,700-ft peak in the Catskills. The hiker had an unstable lower leg injury.
Phoenicia Volunteer Fire Dept. firefighters packaged the injured hiker and began walking down the trail when one of the rescuers, Fire Commissioner Michael Ryan, had a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers enroute to assist with the carry out arrived within moments and immediately began CPR. Due to the steep and technical terrain, rangers, firefighters, and Shandaken Police quickly extracted Ryan down the trail to meet Shandaken paramedics, who used an Automated External Defibrillator.
Paramedics continued using the AED while rescuers carried Ryan to an ambulance, but he later died at Margaretville Hospital.
Meanwhile, one of the rangers stayed behind with the injured hiker. He splinted the hiker’s ankle and created a hypo wrap while waiting for other rescuers to return. Together, they belayed the hiker down a steep section of the trail and transferred them to a waiting ambulance.
“I join our DEC forest rangers and the entire State of New York in mourning the loss of Phoenicia Fire District Commissioner and Firefighter Michael Ryan,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “We offer our heartfelt sympathies and gratitude to Firefighter Ryan’s family, fellow firefighters, community, and all who loved him.
The following reports are excerpted from DEC:
A 33-year-old from Montreal living on a moored sailboat on Lake Champlain became stranded on Dec. 10 after ice locked their boat in place more than a mile from shore.NYS DEC
A 33-year-old from Montreal living on a moored sailboat on Lake Champlain became stranded on Dec. 10 when cold weather caused ice to form, locking the boat in place more than a mile from shore. Three rangers used an airboat to reach the stranded sailboater, breaking ice along the way to create a navigable path to the sailboat. Rangers then helped the person onto their airboat and transported them to shore.
A 41-year-old from Star Lake wandered away from his vehicle after a one-car accident on Route 3 on Dec. 9 in the town of Fine. When NY State Police arrived, the car was unoccupied. Rangers, police, and local fire department personnel began searching for the driver. On the evening of Dec. 11, a search team found his windbreaker. Soon after, they found him deceased on property that belonged to the SUNY ESF Ranger School. Rangers turned the body over to the County Coroner. NYSP is handling the investigation.
A mountain biker broke an ankle while biking in Edgewood Oak Brush Plains Preserve on the morning of Dec. 14. Deer Park Fire Dept. and local EMS were first on scene. Other mountain bikers had already found the injured person, wrapped them in coats, and found the shortest way to evacuate. A ranger helped moved the biker to a sled and pulled them to a fire department UTV, which transported the biker to an ambulance.
Job opening: DEC is now hiring for a seasonal radio dispatcher position in Ray Brook, Essex County. Apply here by December 19.