Bystanders keep man stuck in frozen waterfall alive before ‘dramatic’ rescue, cops say

A man fell into an icy waterfall in New Hampshire, prompting a high-stakes rescue effort involving bystanders and firefighters, officials said.

The man, who has not been identified, fell into Sabbaday Falls and became pinned by an ice shelf on April 6, according to a news release from the Conway Fire Department.

People nearby offered assistance, preventing the man from becoming fully submerged in the frigid water, officials said.

“By the time first responders arrived, he had been in the water up to his neck for about 45 minutes and was experiencing hypothermia,” according to WMUR.

Rescue swimmers entered the water and were able to free the man using ropes, officials said, calling it a “dramatic swift water rescue.”

“We were actually saying it’s an ice rescue, a swift water rescue and a high-angle rescue all at once,” Conway Fire Chief Stephen Solomon told WMUR. “We are very well versed in swift water rescue. We do numerous swift water rescues every year.”

Sabbaday Falls, located in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, is a popular location to visit, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Swimming at the falls is not permitted.

This story was originally published April 7, 2023 at 12:29 PM with the headline "Bystanders keep man stuck in frozen waterfall alive before ‘dramatic’ rescue, cops say."