While thousands of people were attending the Chaverim of Rockland Carnival and Bike Registration at Viola Park on Sunday, nearly 30 dedicated Chaverim volunteers dropped what they were doing and rushed to an emergency deep inside New Jersey’s Norvin Green State Forest.

A local Monsey yeshiva was on a hiking trip in the popular state forest when a 16-year-old bochur suffered a significant ankle injury nearly two miles into the rugged terrain, leaving him unable to continue. A staff member remained with the injured teen while help was requested.

Chaverim of Rockland immediately activated its specialized Search & Rescue Team and dispatched volunteers equipped with a specialized rescue stretcher and wilderness extraction gear. Chaverim volunteers hiked deep into the forest to reach the patient and conducted an on-scene assessment.

The team then carefully secured the injured bochur into the rescue stretcher and carried him through the challenging terrain, navigating rocky trails and wooded areas during the lengthy extraction. After being safely brought out of the forest, the patient was transferred for further medical evaluation and treatment.

The successful rescue highlighted the dedication and professionalism of Chaverim of Rockland’s Search & Rescue Team, whose volunteers left a major community event to answer the call and ensure the bochur was safely brought to medical care.