Man Rescued After Falling In Suffield Quarry

WEST SUFFIELD, CT — A 27-year-old man who had fallen off a rock formation in the dangerous Suffield Quarry was rescued late Tuesday afternoon by emergency personnel.

Around 4:48 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received regarding the fall, which took place about a quarter-mile from the intersection of Quarry and Phelps roads, Capt. Christopher McKee said.

The privately-owned property is covered with trees, and the cliff facing the intersection is covered with sharp, ridged rock from past quarrying, McKee said.

First responders from the Suffield Police Department, Fire Department and Volunteer Ambulance Association arrived on the scene within minutes, providing emergency medical care to the victim, while members of the fire department and ambulance association began deploying special off-road vehicles and equipment to rescue the victim, McKee said.

The victim was treated, stabilized to prevent further injury and transported about a quarter-mile out of the wooded and rocky terrain. The man, who is not a resident of Suffield, was brought to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, McKee said.

Granby police assisted Suffield police with temporarily shutting down roadways to all traffic on Quarry and Phelps roads as the 45-minute rescue operation commenced, McKee said.

The Suffield Police Department wishes to renew its request to stay off the Suffield Quarry property. The owners have authorized Suffield police to make arrests of those found trespassing in this area. No Trespassing signs are highly visible throughout the area, McKee said.

Despite this, Suffield first responders continue to answer several emergency calls at this site every year. The last fatality at this location occurred in 2001, when an 18-year-old man from Agawam, Mass. died from injuries sustained from falling from a 200-foot high cliff in the quarry, McKee said.

Photo credits: Jennifer Tilsch Nardi Golden/Suffield Fire Dept.