WEST PARIS — A 15-year-old boy had to be rescued via kayak and ropes after falling roughly 50 feet onto the rocks and into a creek at Snow Falls on Wednesday night.

Emergency vehicles from West Paris, South Paris, Woodstock, Oxford Fire/Rescue, PACE Ambulance and Tri Town Rescue lined the edge of Route 26 at the popular rest area. The call came in at 7:05 p.m. and the teen was rescued about 45 minutes later, West Paris Fire Chief Troy Billings said.

“I don’t exactly know how he fell,” Billings said. “We utilized ropes to get him out. We had a lengthy carryout.”

A kayak was used to reach the teen, Billings said. Ropes and life jackets from South Paris and Oxford were used in the rescue, Paris Fire Deputy Chief Mark Blaquiere said.

“Life jackets were the biggest thing. We kept everybody safe,” he said.

The teen was carried out on a stretcher and taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway with injuries not considered life-threatening, Blaquiere said.

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Billings and Blaquiere were unsure whether the teen was with anyone when he fell. 

Billings recalled a similar rescue call about 10 years ago when a male fell off the bridge and lived.

Billings and Blaquiere commended everyone who participated in Wednesday’s rescue effort.

“Everybody did a great job — great teamwork by all the departments involved,” Billings said.

eplace@sunmediagroup.net

A 15-year-old boy was rescued at Snow Falls in West Paris on Wednesday night after falling 50 to 60 feet onto the rocks and a stream. He was taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. 

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