A 65-year-old man was rescued Wednesday afternoon after intentionally jumping from a wall ledge along Route 97 at Hawk's Nest in the town of Deerpark, New York. People who had pulled over to photograph the fall foliage heard moaning coming from below the ledge and called 911 just after 1 p.m., setting off a multi-agency rope rescue that pulled the man to safety.
According to Mid Hudson News, the man had a listed address on Route 209 in Deerpark. Responders from Orange and Sullivan counties in New York, along with crews from Pike County, Pennsylvania, converged on the scene to carry out the rescue. The Orange County Technical Rescue Team and neighboring emergency rescue volunteers secured the man and lifted him out using a high-angle rope rescue, per the same report.
Once he was brought up from the ledge, the man was reported conscious and alert, though he was believed to have possible internal injuries. His exact condition was not immediately known. He was taken to Garnet Health Medical Center in the town of Wallkill for treatment, the outlet's report states.
A Scene That Drew Multiple Agencies
Emergency personnel on scene included DEC rangers, New York State Police, Deerpark police and Port Jervis Ambulance Corps EMTs, the report notes. The cross-border response underscores how remote and difficult-to-access the Hawk's Nest cliffs along Route 97 can be when someone goes over the wall, whether by accident or intent.
A Stretch Of Road With A Troubled History
Wednesday's rescue is not the first serious incident at the scenic overlook. In April 2022, New York State Police responded to a fatal fall at the same location, according to The River Reporter. A 42-year-old man fell approximately 250 feet while attempting to retrieve a drone, and the Orange County Technical Rescue Team lowered themselves to him and determined he had died.
The Hawk's Nest stretch of Route 97 has also drawn attention for a different kind of danger. Police told News 12 Westchester that one of Orange County's most scenic roads has become an unwelcome hotspot for street racing, burnouts and reckless driving. Officials said they had received complaints about late-night gatherings involving speeding, screeching tires, burnouts and traffic blocked after midnight.
During a May 2 enforcement operation involving Deerpark police, New York State Police, Orange County sheriff's deputies and Port Jervis police, officers stopped around 30 cars and issued roughly 50 traffic tickets, according to the same report. Authorities said at the time that they were also looking into possible criminal charges against event organizers, along with possible additional misdemeanor charges.
No further details on the rescued man's identity or his eventual medical outcome have been released.
