Chaverim of Rockland Successfully Rescues Stranded Family on Hiking Trail

By: Rockland Daily Staff

Monday evening was rainy and stormy, but not enough to deter the dedicated Chaverim volunteers from preserving in a rescue mission of a family of eight.

“The call came in around 7:00, as dusk was falling, and a father, a mother, and six children had not made it out of the Harriman State Park in Sloatsburg,” related Chaverim coordinator Yossi Margareten.

“They must have veered off the trail, and had tried desperately to find their way out.”

Chaverim rushed to the scene and set up a command center, guiding their dozens of volunteers who entered the park insearch of the family.

“We also alerted the park rangers and State Police,” Margareten relates. “They joined us in the command center, satisfied that the operation was going smoothly.”

Thankfully, they were able to make phone contact. And after locating their Parked vehicle, they methodically worked to find their location—which took a total of about two hours.

“Baruch Hashem, other than needing our jackets to warm them, the family was completely unharmed,” Yossi tells Rocklanddaily. “We were just grateful that things ended as well as they did, and that were able to help.”