Injured Hiker Rescued From Hartshorne Woods Park

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown and Sea Bright volunteer firefighters had to rescue a hiker who became injured Saturday in Hartshorne Woods Park.

The rescue occurred just past 12 p.m. Saturday, said Dennis Fowler, a spokesman for the Middletown fire department, which is one of the largest in the state and is all volunteer.

The lone hiker somehow became injured while hiking on what Fowler said was a very steep, "rogue" trail leading to the Navesink River. A rogue trail is a non-official trail and is not maintained by the park system. Fowler said he did not know what kind of injuries the hiker sustained, but said the hiker had become trapped on a very steep, 100-foot steep embankment over the Navesink River.

Firefighters first had to hike a half mile out to get to the hiker, where they met Rumson First Aid members, who had already begun treating the hiker.

"After assessing the situation, it was decided the best course of action was to perform a technical rope rescue," said Fowler.

The hiker had to be put into a stokes basket, and then lowered using ropes and pulleys down the 100-foot embankment to the river. From there, the hiker was put into an awaiting boat operated by Sea Bright Fire Rescue and then taken to an ambulance at Black Fish Cove.

"Middletown Township Fire Department Community Fire Company worked extremely hard to overcome the difficult terrain," said Fowler. "Their training and experience made this unusual rescue a textbook event."

Hartshorne Woods is a 736-acre county park located in the Locust section of Middletown. Here is a more complete photo of the rescue, provided by Sea Bright Fire Rescue.

Community Fire Company’s Rescue, Brevent Park and Leonardo Fire Company and Sea Bright Fire Rescue marine units, Middletown's Emergency Medical Service Department and Rumson First Aid operated safely under the supervision of Middletown Township Fire Department Third Assistant Chief Anthony Fulciniti.

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