Feb. 06--HAMDEN -- A teenager whom fire officials believe is between 16 and 18-years-old fell 200 feet off the mountain of Sleeping Giant State Park Sunday afternoon and suffered serious injuries, Fire Chief David Berardesca said as rescuers cleared the scene.
Berardesca said some 15 rescuers did a superb job getting the teen to safety even as Lifestar had taken off. Hamden firefighters, who have lots of experience with rescues at the park, were assisted by police and officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, who are conducting an investigation.
Berardesca called the rescue operation "extensive." The victim fell or slipped off the tower trail at about 4:30 p.m. The trails were packed because of nice weather and people heard the fall, he said. Rescuers used a "stokes basket," to rescue the teen, believed to be between 16-18 and believed to be from Hamden. The unidentified teen was driven to safety on a department ATV.
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