Female Teen Rescued After Falling Into Ravine at Edge of Occoquan River

A female who fell off a rope swing into a ravine at the edge of the Occoquan River on July 20 was rescued by Prince William County Fire and Rescue, according to Battalion Chief and Deputy Fire Marshall Joe Robertson.

"Teenaged female was using a man-made rope swing in the woods," Fire and Rescue Captain Frank Orefice said. "The patient attempted to drop off the rope swing from seven to eight feet up and land in the water; however, she miscalculated when to release from the rope and landed on large rocks at the shore line. Access to the patient was difficult due to the terrain."

The teen was rescued after some teenage friends, who were with her at the time, called for help using a cell phone. 

Shortly before 4 p.m., rescue workers climbed down into the ravine behind the 2500 block of Treehouse Drive with a Stokes basket, a stretcher specifically designed to keep a patient safe even over difficult terrain. Dumfries boats 507 and 517 were standing by at the launch site at Lake Ridge Park in case the land rescue was unsuccessful.

The patient was transported to a local hospital with leg injuries, but in a stable condition.