Police Rescue Teen Who Fell Down A Waterfall And Clung To A Rock

A 17-year-old Elmwood Park boy was rescued after falling several feet onto a rock adjacent to a waterfall in the Palisades Interstate Parkway, authorities said.

The teenager was hiking and climbing the trails with friends at 4:20 p.m. Monday when he began swinging from a tree and landed on a rock, Palisades Interstate Parkway Police said in a statement. 

The rock gave way and the teenager fell several feet down the waterfall near Peanut Leap Falls; he suffered "several internal injuries" and could not move until he was rescued, police said.

The teen was trapped 70 feet up the waterfall, his face kneeling on the rock outcropping, police said. 

Two Parkway Police Marine Units transported the Rappel Unit from the Closter Emergency Medical Services and paramedics from Englewood Hospital to the scene, police said.

Rappel personnel ascended above the young man and lowered him to the ground where a Marine unit transported him to Alpine Boat Basin, police said. The boy was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment.

Peanut Leap Falls is located on the New York-New Jersey border in Alpine.

PHOTOS: 

A member of the Closter Emergency Management's Rappel Team rescues the boy who was trapped on the side of the waterfall. 

Emergency responders at the scene.

Photos courtesy of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department

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