by Staff | Apr 15, 2014 11:16 am

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Posted to: East Rock

Firefighters responding to a call from the top of East Rock found a man clinging to the face of a cliff, 60 feet from the summit.

The firefighters were able to lower a rescuer down, attach a rope to the stranded climber, and haul him up to safety.

That’s what happened Monday afternoon, according to fire department Assistant Chief Ralph Black.

He said a 911 call came in at around 5 p.m., when someone spotted a man on the cliff face at East Rock. “We sent a rope rescue crew to the summit and found the person hanging on the west side of East Rock approximately 60 feet from the top.”

In about 45 minutes, responders set up a rope system and lowered a firefighter down to the man. Firefighters were then able to haul up the rescuer and the climber.

The climber, who “appeared to be under the influence,” was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Police officers were also on the scene, and will file charges against the climber, Black said.

“We were afraid he was going to let go of the rock,” Black said. “It was a really great example of an operation by the fire department to save a life. It shows how much these guys train” in special rescue techniques.

Black said members of Engine 8, Squad 1, Truck 3, Emergency 1, Car 36, and Car 33 all responded, along with Black and new fire Chief Allyn Wright.