Injured Hiker Rescued by Matzil in Bear Mountain Park

By Rockland Daily staff 

A group of hikers who set out Monday morning for what began as a pleasant hike in Bear Mountain State Park had their outing cut short when one member sustained a broken ankle in a remote, rugged area of the park.

The call for assistance came in around 2:00 p.m. Matzil Search and Rescue responded. And within 30 minutes, a trained team had reached the scene. The injured hiker was located on a steep 400- to 500-foot incline, with no clear trail access and thick vegetation complicating movement.

Despite the challenging terrain and hot weather, Matzil responders, working under the coordination of the Park Police, stabilized the injured individual and began a manual carry-out using a rescue litter.

The patient was successfully extracted from the area and transferred to EMS for further evaluation. No other injuries were reported.