Man Rescued From Cliffside in Town of Dunn
42.9623214, -89.2812804
Incident Details
The Madison Fire Department's Heavy Urban Rescue Team (HURT) was called to assist Stoughton EMS and Fire after a man fell off a cliffside. The man is estimated to have fallen 10–15 feet through brush, landing on a rock beach.
Stoughton EMS and Fire received the call at 7:16 PM and activated MFD HURT while en route. Units from Stoughton EMS and Fire arrived alongside an ambulance from McFarland Fire and Rescue, making initial verbal contact with the patient. Shortly after, Madison Fire arrived on scene. The departments collaborated to formulate a plan for accessing and rescuing the individual.
Contact with the victim was established by crews utilizing ground ladders, watercraft, and on-foot access through shallow water. The rescue operation was carried out by deploying a 24-foot ladder alongside the individual and lowering a stokes basket via a rope system.
Once the surrounding brush was cleared, responders assessed the patient's condition, transferred him to a rescue boat for transport to shore, and turned him over to an awaiting ambulance for conveyance to the hospital. He was transported with non-life-threatening injuries.
Building on trust and familiarity established during recent joint rope rescue training and prior collaborations, the teams coordinated seamlessly to execute a safe and efficient rescue. This effort included three agencies that provide Fire and EMS services to their respective communities.
About MFD HURT
The Madison Fire Department's Heavy Urban Rescue Team was established in 2007 to respond to a variety of technical rescue emergencies. The team specializes in confined space rescue, high- and low-angle rope rescue, trench and building collapse rescue, and more. The HURT will respond anywhere in Dane County if requested. This incident exemplifies how regional partnerships strengthen public safety in Dane County.
