NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, April 16, 2015
INCIDENTS
New River Gorge NR
Two Brothers Injured In Falling Accidents
Just after 7:30 pm last Sunday evening, rangers received a report that a 13-year-old boy had fallen approximately 50 feet from the rock cliffs at the end of the Long Point trail. Several local fire departments from Fayette County, the Fayette County Rope Rescue Team, local EMS, and rangers responded.
While the initial response was underway, rescuers received an update that the brother of the first falling victim, age 19, had fallen about 100 feet in the same area and was also injured.
Fire department members and the Fayette County Rope Rescue Team reached the 13-year-old brother first and found him to be conscious but with pelvic, back, and ankle pain. He was extracted by a technical litter raise system. The team provided emergency care and lifted him to the cliff top. He was then carried out by litter to the trailhead, where he was airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital.
Meanwhile, rescuers searched for the 19-year-old brother. Ranger Mark Faherty found him several hundred yards away from the first incident site. He was able to stand and walk and was walked out by rescue personnel down to the Kaymoor Trail and out to a waiting ambulance at Fayette Station Road.
Both brothers are reported to be in stable condition and are at Charleston Area Medical Center. The preliminary investigation indicates that the younger brother fell from the cliffs and landed at the bottom. The older brother then himself fell while trying to reach the younger.
Rangers Mark Faherty, Nate Freier, and FTEP ranger/ trainee Ron Babus responded from the NPS.
[Frank Sellers, Acting Chief Ranger]
Everglades NP
Missing Father And Son Found Through Interagency Search
The park received a call at 1 a.m. on January 17th reporting that a father and son were overdue from a fishing trip. The two were thought to have launched their boat the day before into Florida Bay from the Flamingo Marina; their direction was unknown.
An immediate land-based search led to the discovery of their empty truck and boat trailer at the Flamingo parking area. Rangers began a water-based search at first light.
Everglades rangers and volunteers were joined by a United States Coast Guard vessel and five Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission vessels. A Coast Guard helicopter and two fixed-wing planes from the Coast Guard and commission were also utilized. Interviews were also conducted with family and Friends in an effort to determine if the party had a specific itinerary.
Everglades rangers located the missing father and son in good condition about a mile offshore in the Gulf of Mexico just before noon. They were safely reunited with family waiting at the Flamingo Ranger Station. Follow-up interviews with the subjects revealed that they had decided to spend the night on the water without advising the reporting party of the change in plans.
[Mike Michener, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers):
Ford's Theater NHS - Ford's Theatre National Historic Site commemorated the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln with 36 hours of around-the-clock programming at the theater and the Petersen House, where the stricken president died.
Civil War to Civil Rights Commemoration - On April 9th, a historic bell tolled solemnly at the 150th anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox Court House NHP. Then, as part of the park's five-day commemoration, bells rang across the land.
US Park Police - On April 8th, the Park Police hosted a law enforcement training course entitled “Below 100” at its Anacostia Operations Facility for USPP and local law enforcement officers.
Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - The Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services Division has filled several emergency services, enforcement and security positions with permanent or acting staff members.
NPS Alumni - Frank Betts, career NPS ranger and past superintendent of Crater Lake National Park and Denali National Park, passed away on Saturday, April 11th.
To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites:
NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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