Aug. 08--SAGAMORE BEACH -- Firefighters and personnel from Shawme-Crowell State Forest yesterday rescued a man who had fallen halfway down a 60-foot cliff behind his house.
The man was looking out on Cape Cod Bay when he lost track of where he was in his yard at 88 Sagamore Road and fell down the brush-covered slope of about 45 to 50 degrees, Bourne Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Carrara said.
Bourne fire Lt. Paul Weeks, who was first to arrive on the scene, wrapped a garden hose around a column on the property and lowered himself to the man to evaluate him and begin treatment, Carrara said.
Bourne firefighters, firefighters from Plymouth and forest fire staff from Shawme-Crowell assisted in the rescue, which required a rope and pulley system, Carrara said.
A stokes basket, which is a stretcher designed to be lifted by ropes in situations where direct access is not possible, was used to move the many up the cliff, Carrara said.
Although fire officials had checked for a medical helicopter's availability just in case, a Bourne ambulance took the man to Jordan Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Carrara said.
Copyright 2013 - Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
