Multi-agency team extracts patient from deep cistern on St. Croix

A coordinated rescue operation on St. Croix on Friday morning brought together three separate emergency response organizations to extract a patient from a deep cistern, according to information from St. Croix Rescue.

The incident unfolded around 11:00 a.m. when a patient fell into the approximately 14-foot-deep cistern. An open cover on the structure had created the hazard that led to the fall. Extracting the patient safely required both immediate medical attention and technical expertise suited to confined-space rescue.

V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) provided medical care and emergency response. St. Croix Rescue and Caliber Rescue Team handled the specialized technical work needed to reach and remove the patient from the confined space, according to Ben Torkelson, deputy chief of operations for St. Croix Rescue and co-owner of Caliber Rescue Team.

Torkelson emphasized that the success of the operation depended on contributions from all three sectors: government emergency services, nonprofit volunteer rescue groups, and private specialists. He noted that the incident underscores the value of having access to technical rescue resources locally, particularly for situations that go beyond standard medical response capabilities.

Caliber Rescue provides confined-space and high- and low-angle rescue services. VIFEMS lists rescue operations, search and rescue, and specialized responses to high-risk incidents among its core functions. Torkelson stressed that the rescue showed how government agencies can effectively partner with volunteer organizations and private-sector experts when an emergency demands additional technical resources.