On June 5, 2024, at 9:31 PM the Mill Creek Fire Company was dispatched to a medical emergency at Capitol Trail (Rt 2) and Creekside Drive.   EMS personnel responded to the scene of the fallen subject but were not able to immediately locate the person.   The patient had fallen off the small bridge on Capitol Trail and landed approximately 30 feet below alongside Pike Creek.   The patient was able to communicate with 9-1-1 dispatchers to provide details on her location.   The EMS personnel found the patient and due to the area where she had fallen requested the New Castle County High-Angle / Confined Space rescue teams to be dispatched. 

Additional resources specializing in this type of rescue were dispatched from the City of Wilmington Fire Department, Christiana Fire Company, Cranston Heights Fire Company, and Five Points Fire Company.   New Castle County Paramedics were originally dispatched.  

Capitol Trail (Rt 2) eastbound was closed to traffic to allow first responders to set up for the rescue.   As the patient was stabilized and transferred to a Stokes basket the rescue teams prepared rigging and ropes to lift the patient up to the road surface.  At 10:18 PM the patient as placed in the Mill Creek Fire Company ambulance and transported to the Christiana Hospital as a trauma patient.  The scene was placed under control at 10:20 PM.

 The entire rescue operation was conducted in the dark during heavy rain and limited visibility.   Mill Creek Fire Company is extremely grateful for the quick and precision extrication of the patient by the men and women of the New Castle County High-Angle / Confined Space rescue team.   Over twenty-five firefighters and EMT’s/Paramdies were involved in the rescue.

JS