Teen Falls Off Granby Waterfall

The waterfall at Enders State Forest in Granby is a popular summer hangout, but can be dangerous because the rocks are slippery.

On Monday, Zack Wilkins, 14, fell from atop that waterfall, landing in the water about 30 feet below. For the third time this summer, firefighters say a daring rescue followed.

“We needed a lot of rope. We tied the rope to the trees. We had a basket that had to go down a pretty steep drop to the bottom of the falls,” said Captain Erik Davis, Lost Acres Fire Department.

Firefighters say Wilkins was swimming with friends when he tried to cross the waterfall and lost his footing. Rescue crews say the boy was in the water for almost 30 minutes and had stopped breathing.

“We ran up the hill and told all the people in the parking lot that a boy had fallen off the rocks and they ran down to help,” said Haley Criscitilli of Granby.

One of those people was an off-duty lifeguard who pulled the boy to safety and gave him CPR. Rescue crews say the boy was breathing when they arrived. Lifestar took the teen to Hartford Hospital with neck and head injuries.

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The teen's father says his son has bumps and bruises but is expected to recover.

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Conservation officers say the area is known for its rough terrain.

Rescue crews say they typically respond to the state forest several times each summer.