A man stranded on an island near High Falls in Rochester was rescued Sunday evening by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew dispatched from Detroit after dangerous river conditions prevented local firefighters from reaching him.
According to the Rochester Fire Department, crews responded shortly before 5:40 p.m. to the area near the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge for a report of a person trapped on an island in the Genesee River.
Firefighters initially prepared for a rope rescue operation, but officials said extremely strong currents and hazardous river conditions made it unsafe to deploy a rescue craft.
During the response, three firefighters were thrown into the water. One firefighter required assistance returning to shore, though all three made it back safely, according to the department.
As conditions worsened, officials requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Detroit arrived on scene and rescued the stranded man within minutes.
No additional injuries were reported.
