Hoboken firefighters saved a man who fell down the Palisades cliff, just south of the 9th Street Light Rail elevator in Jersey City, this morning, according to public safety spokeswoman Marci Rubin.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Our firefighters showed courage and professionalism, acting quickly to effectuate this rescue in the face of freezing temperatures and icy terrain,” Fire Chief Brian Crimmins said in a statement.
“I commend the actions of Captains Louis Zampella, Gregory Ferrante, and Anthony Diaz and Firefighters Michael Casazza, John Taglieri, Ali Elgayar, and Elias Colon. Additionally, I extend my sincere gratitude to NJ Transit PD for their collaboration in this successful rescue.”
Hoboken Fire Department (HFD) Rescue 1 and Engine 3 rescued an elderly individual at approximately 8:35 a.m., this morning, Friday, Feb. 6, after he fell down the Palisades cliff, just south of the Ninth Street Light Rail elevator, in Jersey City, noted Rubin.
The individual was located by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department, about 25 feet below street level, on the Hoboken-Jersey City border. He was injured and had been exposed to freezing temperatures for hours.
HFD personnel conducted a high-angle rope rescue operation, with the assistance of the New Jersey Transit Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit, securing the man in a Stokes basket and lifting him safely to Paterson Plank Road in Jersey City.
The man, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The West New York Museum, which several years ago uncovered the truth through extensive research at both the New Jersey, as well as the New York State Archives, that our Town Bell, which sits on a pedestal in front of our Municipal Building, that reads: “Erected by the Town of West New York N.J., In Commemoration of the Volunteer Fire Dept., Organized 1889 Disbanded 1915, Dedicated to the Exempt Firemen”, was actually purchased by Union Township – West New York’s former name- in 1892 from the City of Hoboken where it had served as a fire bell until that city transitioned to a paid Fire Dept, and used as a fire bell on a tower behind our original Town Hall on West side of Bergenline Avenue just south of what is now 61st Street, until West New York also transitioned from a volunteer to a paid fire dept in 1915. In that spirit of common history that Hoboken and West New York share, the West New York Museum salutes the bravery and professionalism of the Hoboken Fire Department in rescuing a man who had fallen from a cliff and sustained injuries in sub-freezing temperatures.
The first Officer on scene was Hudson County Sheriffs Officer Anthony Alvarez, a rookie Officer and US Coast Guard Veteran who is actually the one who found the Missing Man with his family. SO Alvarez and his Sgt. were the first to risk their lives by climbing all the way down the icy cliff to the man and kept him warm with blankets for over 30 minutes until Firefighters arrived. The 2 Hudson County Sheriffs Officers then helped the Firefighters hoist the man up to safety. It is a shame that SO Alvarez was the first one on scene and the last one to leave the scene and there is no mention of him or his department.
John, have you tried to answer first and fifth from 5 Ws of journalism? Why not?
That may be a drunk homeless guy or rising Tikotok star (or anyone in between). In the latter case, he should refund Hoboken cost of his rescue. I see no reason for firefighters risking own lives for stupid people.