Some were sound asleep while others were celebrating the arrival of 2019. However, as midnight approached the professional volunteers in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties were engaged in a swift water rescue-trying to save two lives.
It was a riveting 90-minute emergency scanner and online explosion.
The situation began at 10:52 p.m. when Allegany County 911 dispatched Friendship fire and ambulance to an area behind the Valley View trailer park off County Road 20. Dispatcher's reported a car was being swept down a creek-one person was in the water while another clung to the vehicle roof. Basically from there...all Hell broke. The car went from a gentle float to wild swift water ride. Eventually, two people ended up on top of the vehicle...one speaking to 911 as the cell phone battery life drained. Town of Friendship police were first on scene and were assisted by state troopers, Allegany County Emergency Management, Friendship and Belmont fire department's, Friendship ambulance and Amity Rescue. Swift Water Rescue Teams were called in from Allegany and Westons Mills (Cattaraugus County), Wellsville Rescue and Duke Hose in Wellsville with its water rescue gear.
As the new year arrived, volunteers were engaged in a life or death situation.
Rescuer's were eventually able to reach the pair. By 12:30 a.m., the first of two patients was in an ambulance headed to Olean General. Both patients were reportedly suffering from hypothermia and other potential injuries.
UPDATE FROM THE ALLEGANY FIRE DEPARTMENT:
11:17p.m. on December 31- The Technical Rescue Team responded to assisted Friendship Fire for 2 people trapped on the roof of a vehicle in a swollen creek. Our team along with Westons Mills responded with 10 swift water technicians and met up with 4 techs from Wellsville Engine 1 to form a plan. Wellsville Engine 1 set up down stream safeties and began setting up for a high line operation. Allegany was able to launch our inflatable boat with jet drive into the swollen creek to pull the two very cold victims from the roof of their SUV. The victims were handed off to ems for transport to OGH. Each member of the Allegany and Westons Mills teams put in over 100 hours of training a year and are equipped with the proper and best equipment available for water, rope, and confined space rescues. Recently the teams have began some regional training with the great members of Wellsville Engine 1 and the Ladder Company and tonight this teamwork paid off. Many volunteers from several departments, from 2 counties, came together to start the New Year on a positive note.
