A hiker who fell over a cliff and became stranded on a New York mountain was rescued the next day by a jogger who heard his cries for help.
Mandeep Tiwana, 46, left his Nyack home around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday to go for a stroll; when he did not return, his wife notified the police.
They attempted to locate Tiwana using K-9 units and drones, but were unsuccessful, and he was left to spend the night alone in the frigid temperatures.
Elyse Vandorpe, 56, could not hear him yelling for help from a densely wooded area until around 8:00 a.m. the following morning, while on her daily run.
Since Tiwana was stranded on steep, treacherous terrain, he had to be evacuated to safety. He was transported to the hospital and treated for minor abrasions, non-lethal cold, and dehydration.
According to paramedics, because Tiwana left his cell phone in his vehicle, he was unable to call for help.
46-year-old Mandeep Tiwana was walking on a trail near Nyack, New York, when he tripped on loose rocks, fell off a cliff, and became lost.
Tiwana’s wife reported him missing to police, but he was not located that evening. He spent the night in the cold by himself.
56-year-old Elyse Vandorpe heard Tiwana screaming from atop the mountain. She then retraced her steps and attracted the notice of a park ranger.
His 44-year-old wife, Karena Kronin, told police that Tiwana, who works as a human rights activist calling for citizen action, routinely takes walks in Nyack State Park.
Kronin reported him missing at 4.45 p.m. on Tuesday, after he had been absent for over three hours.
According to the Clarkston Police Department, they then initiated a county alarm, which alerted law enforcement agencies around the county of the incident.
Clarksdale Police stated in a statement, ‘An intensive search was done by patrol officers, CPD K9, and our Drone Unit of the local area, Nyack State Beach, and Hook Mtn, however we were unable to locate the missing party.’
Kronin also posted a message on social media urging anyone who had seen him in the vicinity to come forward.
Tiwana routinely walks in Nyack State Park. According to paramedics, he was unable to call for assistance because he left his phone in the car.
Karen Kronin, Tiwana’s 44-year-old wife, contacted police after he failed to return. She posted on social media a request for anyone who had seen him in Nyack State Park to contact her.
Park police dispatched K-9 units and drones to locate the missing hiker, but were unsuccessful until the next day, when a woman on her daily run heard him yelling.
The next day, while running in the park, Vandorpe heard distant cries for assistance but was unable to make out what was being said, so she stopped another runner for a second opinion.
Vandorpe told NBC4: “I was running when I heard him yelling “help, help!” from the mountain.”
She stated, “As I attempted to yell up the mountain, they began to connect with me.”
Vandorpe ran back down the trail and located a park ranger, whom she contacted for more assistance.
Donny Federowski, a paramedic, told NBC4 that loose shale rocks that blanketed the face of the cliff were eroding beneath the leaves.
Tiwana might have fallen off the cliff as the ground underneath him collapsed.
Federowski ascended the cliff wall to meet Tiwana, whom he claimed was improperly attired for the cold. He provided him with water and blankets.
Other first responders descended from above to reach Tiwana before he was airlifted – a collaborative effort by the Nyack and Piedmont fire departments.
One of the paramedics that climbed the mountain to find Tiwani was Donny Federowski. He stated that beneath the leaves were shale rocks that were easily erodible.
Tiwana was dehydrated and hypothermic when the rescue team located her.
The rescue team placed Tiwana in a basket and raised him to a hiking trail farther up the mountain, where he received initial medical care.
A helicopter crew subsequently transported him to Montefiore Nyack Hospital, where his non-life-threatening injuries were treated.