Woman Who Climbed Tree To Escape Coyote Rescued In Manchester

A woman who climbed a tree after she thought she saw a coyote in the woods near America’s Keswick was rescued shortly before 4 a.m. Monday, Manchester police said, more than five hours after she left to go for a walk.

April Lewis, 28, of Quakertown, Pa., told Manchester police she is vacationing at America’s Keswick and about 10 p.m. on Sunday went out for a walk in the woods without her cell phone, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Lewis told police that while she was walking, she believed that she heard and observed one or more coyotes, so she climbed a tree for safety and cut a piece of her pant leg off to tie herself to the tree, and began calling for help, Malland said.

At 3 a.m. a man called Manchester police and told them he went outside to smoke a cigarette and heard a female calling for help in the area of Portsmouth Street in the Whiting section, Malland said.

Officers Arthur Cronk, Brian Volk and Michael Anderson began searching for the female by attempting to follow her voice, which appeared to be coming from a densely wooded area between America’s Keswick, Schoolhouse Road, and the JCP&L power line easement, he said.

While trying to find her, the woman’s voice began to fade and her pleas for help became less frequent, police said. Members of the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department as well as a bloodhound from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with the search, Malland said.

Then, while searching the area, Cronk heard the female’s voice and was able to get a response from her, which aided in determining her location, Malland said. She was found in a tree about 15 feet off the ground, he said. She had to be helped down by police and members of the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department because her legs were too weak for her to climb down on her own, Malland said.

She was found about 3:50 a.m., he said.

Lewis was evaluated by Quality Medical Transport at the scene, and released without further medical treatment, he said.

“Manchester Police would like to thank the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, and Quality Medical Transport for their assistance in Lewis’s safe recovery,” Malland said.