Rescue Effort—

Riverbank Collapse Injures Youths In Sandy Hook Center

By Andrew Gorosko

Five local people were injured during twilight on June 30, after a steep, sandy section of riverbank on the Pootatuck River collapsed, partially burying three of them and requiring a rescue effort by about 35 emergency services staffers.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company First Assistant Fire Chief Henry Velthuizen said July 1 that firefighters received a call for help at 8:23 pm, alerting them that there had been a earthen collapse requiring a rescue effort. The incident initially was reported as an industrial accident.

Sandy Hook firefighters, the town’s Confined Space Rescue Team, police, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and regional paramedics responded to the scene.

Police said that eight youths, male and female, ranging in age from 18 to 20, had gathered in a wooded area alongside the Pootatuck River, where a sandy embankment collapsed. Two of the trapped youths were freed by their companions. One of the youths reportedly freed himself. The riverbank has an approximately 45-degree slope.

One Sandy Hook firefighter was injured while at the scene. Also, a mother of one of the youths was injured during the course of the incident, Mr Velthuizen said.

None of the injuries appeared to be overly serious, he said. Officials did not disclose the names of those involved in the incident.

The riverbank collapse occurred in an isolated area lying behind the Newtown United Methodist Church at 92 Church Hill Road. The site lies about 100 yards from the westbound lanes of Interstate 84.

Rescue staffers stationed their emergency vehicles in a parking lot behind 100 Church Hill Road and walked about one-quarter mile through the woods on narrow trails in twilight to get to the collapsed riverbank.

Mr Velthuizen said that the youths, for some unknown reason, were apparently digging into the steep sandbank, which rises about 40 feet up from the west side of the river. Being inherently unstable, the fine sand then shifted, causing three of the youths to become partially buried.

One youth had facial injuries. Another had back injuries. A third youth experienced breathing problems, Mr Velthuizen said.

Having to traverse twisting, uneven terrain on trails during twilight and the ensuing darkness posed logistical problems for the rescuers, Mr Velthuizen said.

Rescuers worked at the scene for about 30 minutes to get the injured people out of the area, so they could be transported to Danbury Hospital, he said. The injured were carried from the scene on medical-support frames. Three ambulance crews were used. Firefighters left the scene at about 9:30 pm. Police said they are investigating the incident.