March 31--CENTER TWP. --A team of more than 30 emergency responders and four teenage boys worked for 99 minutes late Friday afternoon to create a 350-foot, uphill rope rescue for a 13-year-old who slid over a cliff-like rock formation near Raccoon Creek.
Firefighters estimated that Hans Spencer, no address available, dropped 50 feet into a rocky creek bed below Whitewood Drive in Center Township. He remained conscious and attempted to walk out of the ravine but was unable. Three Beaver County Christian School students -- Scott Layton, 18, Josh Wright, 17, and Elijah Carleton, 18 -- were hiking in the area of a waterfall and saw Spencer fall. Layton, using Wright's cell phone, called 911 and then climbed out to meet policemen and firefighters and lead them to Spencer.
Spencer's injuries were not identified by emergency responders. He was hiking with a friend in a heavily wooded area that descends to a hairpin turn in Raccoon Creek. It is frequented by young people and includes a rope for rappelling.
Capt. Tim Hill of Center Township Volunteer Fire Department said initial assessments revealed an uphill rope rescue was necessary.
"There was no easier way to bring him out. Any other way would have been much longer. There was no vehicle access."
The Beaver County Technical Rescue Team arrived with 21 firefighters from Aliquippa, Baden and Chippewa Township, according to Chief Dave Trzcianko. They joined 15 Center Township firefighters, two Center police officers and Medic Rescue personnel at the bottom of the ravine. Trzcianko said it took four rope systems to carry Spencer to the top of the hill. Trzcianko estimated that the first leg of the journey involved a 100-foot climb on an 80 percent grade, followed by two 100-foot segments over a 60 percent grade.
"It was manpower-intensive; it was equipment-intensive," Trzcianko said.
"It was amazing," said Wright of Chippewa Township, who along with Layton, Carleton and a fourth teenager stayed with Spencer during the rescue.
© 2012 Timesonline.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2012 - Beaver County Times, Pa.
