By Marianne Christy
The following account of a Sunday, June 7 late-night rescue effort at Nicks Lake was provided by Larry Ventura, a member of the Old Forge Fire Department and Ambulance Crew.
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The Old Forge Fire Department was dispatched at 9:51 p.m. on Sunday, June 7 for a rescue call for a 48-year-old female at Nicks Lake State Campground. The woman called 911 from her cell phone to say she was lost.
Responding to the call were Chief Charles Bogardus (Car 1), 1st Asst. Chief Ron Parent (Car 2) and 2nd Asst. Chief Leo DeVincenzi (Car 3), with additional staff and heavy Rescue One.
The caller remained on the phone with the 911 Herkimer County Center Dispatcher throughout the entire rescue operation.
Chief Bogardus established a command post communicating with the caller through the 911 dispatcher who sent a ping to the woman’s cell phone to determine her exact location, but it was difficult for command to find it on the map.
The Chief ordered heavy rescue to blow an air horn and siren for the victim to hear, however she could not.
Rescue 1 relocated to the boat ramp at Nicks Lake and continued to blow the air horn and siren which eventually were heard by the lost woman.
Command then had to figure out in which direction to send in the rescue team. In the meantime, the Chief had the 911 dispatcher notify the DEC to send a forest ranger to assist in the final rescue.
While waiting for the ranger’s arrival, 911 notified command that the lost woman was to stay in place. At that time she indicated she had lost her shoes, had slight cuts and was cold and tired.
NYS DEC Ranger Chad Richardson arrived and joined the Old Forge Fire Depart-ment/Ambulance rescue team of Mike Hunkins, Ron Parent, Dave Langworthy, Town of Webb Patrolman Ed McIlroy and the Nicks Lake caretaker who set off on the Nicks Lake trail shouting and whistling.
Initially the woman reported that she could not hear them, but after 20 minutes she communicated they could be heard in the distance. Shortly thereafter she was visually located, and excited to have been found.
The rescue team, relieved to have located her, brought in towels and tape to create makeshift footwear for her, if needed.
She was slowly escorted out to an Old Forge Ambulance for evaluation by EMTs.
She was found to be in good medical shape, and expressed gratitude for the rescue.
Though the staff of Old Forge Fire Department and the Ambulance Crew said there were some anxious moments during the three-hour rescue, they were excited for the happy ending and for the assistance by Ranger Richardson and Officer McIlroy.
All went home satisfied with a rescue job well done, and with a happy ending coffee conversation to share.