A total team effort was how Greencastle Fire Department assistant chief Rob Frank described the efforts of June 23 after calls came in for a rescue mission at Fern Cliff Nature Preserve.
Multiple first responders responded to extricate an individual who called 911 and told dispatchers they had fallen an approximate 50 feet off a cliff and were in need of medical help.
Initially, first responders had to deal with tough terrain, including cutting fallen trees and multiple cliffs attempting to reach the individual.
An hour after arriving on the scene, first responders were able to carry the victim out, transporting him to a waiting medical helicopter and the victim was flown to a hospital.
This week, those first responders, who came from the following:
Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Greencastle Fire, Putnam County EMS, Roachdale Fire, Bellmore Fire and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, were recognized by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security State EMS Director Kraig Kinney.
Greencastle assistant fire chief Rob Frank said the incident was one he had not experienced before.
"It is pretty rare. I have been on full-time for 11 years, and that was the first time. It was a team effort, and I am glad all departments can come together and work together to accomplish a big task like this," Frank told The Putnam County Post.
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