When crews conduct search and rescue missions over the edge at Thacher Park, the outcome is usually fatal. But Friday’s rescue was one of the few that had a successful outcome.
A missing 25-year-old man was found alive, and was rescued from a cliff at Thacher Park.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple tweeted Friday morning that Zachary Barrantes had been found alive. A rescue mission was organized, and Barrantes was pulled up to safety early Friday afternoon.
“They found a shoe and then went down from the shoe and found Zachary leaning up against a tree,” Apple said Friday.
Barrantes hadn't been seen since an Uber driver dropped him off at Thacher Park on New Year’s Eve.
Captain Michael Cappuccilli with the New York State Parks Police says Barrantes’ shoe was found earlier Friday morning, which ultimately allowed searchers to find the man a few hundred yards down below the parking lot near the park’s scenic overlook.
When the rescue team arrived, Cappuccilli says Barrantes was conscious and alert and asked for water. It took crews several hours to get Barrantes to the top of the cliff. He was then airlifted to Albany Medical Center.
“The escarpment actually goes out over, plus rocks were falling," Apple said. "So we had to make sure that he was protected as well as our members down below were protected.”
Apple added that Barrantes told authorities he went to Thacher Park to jump off the cliff.
After suffering that fall and several days in the cold, Apple says Barrantes is lucky to be alive.
“Very few people have jumped off of this escarpment and lived, no matter which area you’re in," Apple said. "And he did, and I hope he gets the help that he desperately needs.”
Barrantes' family also released an update, saying he would be flown to a Syracuse burn center to be treated for frostbite, though they say there do not appear to be any major injuries.
"Shoulders are dislocated. He was sitting up with no use of his hands, because they were so frostbitten. He was very thirsty, since he couldn't use his arms to get snow to have water. Our family wishes we could hug every single brave and caring soul who aided in the rescue of my son. We are truly grateful to the outpouring of care and concern from everyone in the community. We feel very blessed by this miracle of my son's survival & rescue," the family said.