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Subscribe to RSSOfficials in western New York rescued an elderly woman they found clinging to a tree branch on the edge of a cliff over a creek Thursday.
Beverly Blewett, 86, said she was raking leaves in her backyard Thursday afternoon when the ground gave out from underneath her around 1:30 p.m., the Niagara-Gazette reported. She then tumbled about 30 feet before latching on to a tree that hung over a cliff above the edge of Eighteen Mile Creek in Niagara County, N.Y.
Blewett screamed for help but wasn’t immediately heard. She clung to the tree for about an hour before a neighbor heard her screams and called police.
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Rescue crews from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department and the Border Patrol, who were on a joint operation nearby, responded to the scene.
“We were just down the street,” Niagara County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Scott Lombardo told the Niagara-Gazette. “We just passed it. Who knows how long she would have been able to hang on?”
Crews lowered a 50-foot rope to her, which she was able to tie around herself. Then, the rescue crew hooked a cable to a fire truck and sent a basket stretcher to Blewett. She strapped herself in and workers lifted her up.
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Blewett suffered minor bruises and scratches. She was airlifted to Erie County Medical Center as a precaution.
According to the Niagara-Gazette, houses in the area have short backyards, and immediately beyond grass and a few trees, there’s a cliff and a jagged drop of more than 100 feet into the creek. Eighteen Mile Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario, and the name refers to its distance from the Niagara River to the west.
“I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff, but never anything like it,” Lombardo said, adding that he had been with the Sheriff's Department for 20 years. “The sun and moon must have been in the right place.”
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Leave a Comment:
I love her tenacity, hanging onto the tree for so long and helping with her own rescue (strapping herself in) at 86. Way to go, Beverly!
Some people are just tough.
WHO IS THIS WOMAN????? Hahaha! Someone needs to check her "true identity"! Diana Prince, we know it's you!! : )
There was probably a gorilla on the opposite tree observing the whole fall and going, "damn, wish I could do that, that's one tough sumbitch... what kinda bananas is she on?"
First off, she was raking leaves.
Then she tucked herself into a basket stretcher on a ledge 100' above a creek.
I was to be that spry when I'm 86.
First off, she was raking leaves.
Then she tucked herself into a basket stretcher on a ledge 100' above a creek.
I want to be that spry when I'm 86.
'the sun and moon must have been in the right place'... i dunno about that.. but Bev was absolutely in the wrong place.
it's a good thing the police and firefighters showed up to 'supervise' her self rescue...
If the sun and the moon were in the right place she would not have taken that tumble! Good for her to be able to hang on the tree and get herself into the basket later!
absolutely amazing!! She must be one in-shape woman for her age!
absolutely amazing!! She must be one in-shape woman for her age!
Beverly you are an amazing woman strong and self sufficient at 86. There was a guardian angel watching over you.
guardian angel?
Really, there's no need to introduce silly superstition into this.
A "real" guardian angel would have prevented her from going over the cliff to begin with.
What exactly is it that you think this angel did to help?
Get a clue.
Gosh MagicPanties. Your panties are tied in a knot.
Magic panties...get a life! Why turn good thoughts into negative ones. Loser...
I suppose rescuers neglected their highest priority--photos first!--then worry about try'n to save her. (JK)
Watch out for that first step, it's a Doozie....
God bless this old woman. What a story!!! She was that strong to fall that far and catch her self and then hang on to the tree!!! Wow!!! She should be a poster lady for all people of all ages to give them encouragement to NEVER give up, even if you are 86 years old.!!!!!!
A) It is the practice along the Great Lakes, (Erie to the west into Ohio) to name Creeks by their length, like 4 Mile, 9 Mile, 20 Mile Creek. 18 Mile Creek seems to go from Lockport to Lake Ontario via Newfane, Burt and Olcott, and if so is navigible and has dam, near Van Horn Mansion?
B) Ontario is a Lake, and 18 Mile Creek would not be called tributary, to a lake. Another river yes, lake no?
C) At 86 you should let the leaves blow over the bank, Take care?
Rich,
I know WIKI's are not perfect resources, But lookup eighteen mile creek... several sites Wiki's and others...reference distance from (not length which is common local belief) and referred to as both a creek and tributary.
This woman belongs on a Wheaties box!
I wonder how she is behind the wheel of a car!!
Give her credit, she is not sitting in front of the tube watching Judge Judy.
George Zimmer's supporters; nothing but great Patrons of Injustice! You guys are the same people who watched the Late Rodney King get beaten by Racists Cops, and said the Cops were justified. You great Patrons of Injustice consider Joe Horn a Hero, in spite of him being declared a double Murderer by the Book of Numbers, Chap 35. It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, nor that you don't accept it. In fact you all are not able to accept it, it is against your true nature! Have you all noticed that your heros are often associated with smoking guns? Smh at you hypocrits. And you want to convict someone because of their past? If America was on trial, would you HYPOCRITS factor in her past? SMH.
rtest...please don't partake in procreation...you patron of justice ;)
Chopper ride as a precaution??? guess who gets to pay for that... they are way over used.
She should learn to stay out of those Road Runner cartoons.
I'm amazed that nobody has blamed Paul Ryan for this.
magicpanties, shut the hell up, noone can talk nice without people like you saying stupid crap. God bless beverly, i hope i can do what she is doing when im up there in years.
If the story is true (age!), then the elderly lady is a very lucky, healthy and strong woman.
Wow! This must be one spunky senior!