Rescue

Baltimore Firefighters Rescue Teen From Ravine

July 21, 2011

BALTIMORE -- A teen fell down a ravine Wednesday afternoon in north Baltimore. Fire crews were called at about 4:15 p.m. to Falls Road at Chestnut Avenue after an 18-year-old man slipped 60 feet down a ravine and was stuck for more than an hour. "We could see a rope that's on top of a hill that's strapped to the tree, and maybe something which they used to go down the cliff and possibly swim," said Baltimore City Fire Battalion Chief Charles Browning.

BALTIMORE --

A teen fell down a ravine Wednesday afternoon in north Baltimore.

Fire crews were called at about 4:15 p.m. to Falls Road at Chestnut Avenue after an 18-year-old man slipped 60 feet down a ravine and was stuck for more than an hour.

"We could see a rope that's on top of a hill that's strapped to the tree, and maybe something which they used to go down the cliff and possibly swim," said Baltimore City Fire Battalion Chief Charles Browning.

The teen's family watched as dozens of firefighters worked to rescue him. Browning said the firefighters made it down the ravine and found the teen's ankle was broken. They secured him to a harness and rope, and then started the slow process of trying to hoist him to safety.

"They had a hoisting system. Two members (were) down there with the harness on, and it was a tremendous job as far as so many feet at a minute because of the incline," Browning said.

Browning said the firefighters lifted the teen to safety and got him into an ambulance. The teen was scared, but firefighters said the broken ankle appeared to be his only injury.

"You've got to give it to the firefighters. It was a tremendous job. It shows how they were trained in what they did today," Browning said.