By William Kaempffer
New Haven Register
HAMDEN, Connecticut -- A Quinnipiac University student found himself in a precarious position late Friday when he couldn’t go up or down the mountain at Sleeping Giant State Park. A friend called 911 at 5:30 p.m., and the Fire Department’s Mountain Rescue Team went into action to help Reid A. Engwall, 19, of California, get back down to flat land, according to Deputy Fire Chief Robert Surprise.
Seven firefighters, commanded by Battalion Chief John Spencer, took an hour and 20 minutes to get the job done, Surprise said. Engwall was treated at the scene for a cut on his wrist, Surprise said.
“He was apparently with friends and he was the only one who decided to go up to try and climb the quarryof the Giant, known as the head,” Surprise said. “He got into a situation where he couldn’t go up or down. We don’t know if he did it as a dare or he thought he could make it to the top on his own.”
Lt. Gary Merwede rappelled over the side of the mountain at the north side of its face. He put a helmet and a safety harness on Engwall while the rest of the crew set up a haul system that brought both down, Surprise said.
Engwall was cited for disorderly conduct, according to state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Dennis Schain.
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