Hiker Falls Off Cliff At Mills Reservation In Montclair, Cedar Grove

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A person was hospitalized after falling off a cliff and landing on a rocky ledge at Mills Reservation in Essex County last weekend. Emergency responders successfully carried out a risky, “high-angle” rescue operation to retrieve them, authorities said.

The Montclair Fire Department got a report that someone fell off a cliff on Saturday at the reservation, a 157-acre park that spans Montclair and Cedar Grove. The reservation has several walking/jogging trails, one of which leads to a cliff that overlooks the New York skyline.

Acting Fire Chief Robert Duncan released the following details about the incident:

“The individual had been walking in Mills Reservation when they fell 20 feet from the cliff. The fire department, along with Montclair and Cedar Grove police, found the injured person wedged between a tree and the cliff face on a narrow ledge that was approximately 75 feet from the ground. The victim had lost consciousness and sustained several injuries that required medical attention.”

Here's what happened next, Duncan said:

“The fire department, working in complete darkness, was able to rescue the individual using advanced rope rescue techniques and equipment. Several firefighters and police officers ascended to the rocky ledge where the victim was located in order to package and lower them to safety. Once on the ground, the person was turned over to the Montclair Ambulance Unit and transported to the hospital for treatment.”

The rescue operation took about 30 minutes. All on-duty staff was engaged in the rescue.

No injuries to emergency responders or other civilians were reported, authorities said.

“Montclair Fire Department personnel are trained and equipped to handle high-angle rope rescues,” Duncan said.

“These types of emergencies often present extremely high-risk to the civilians involved as well as the rescuers,” he added. “They also require a large number of personnel to respond early in the incident. The fire department staff members’ dedication, training and professionalism allowed for the victim to get the required medical attention in a timely manner.”

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