Algonquin-Lake in the Hills firefighter/paramedics responded about 1:47 p.m. Sunday to a report of a teen trapped in a ski lift conveyor gear at Raging Buffalo Park, 19N475 Route 31 in Dundee. Firefighters on the scene reported that a male teen was trapped underground in the conveyor gear. The conveyor apparently lifts snowboarders up the Magic Carpet tow on the beginner’s hill.
About 1:54 p.m. fire command requested a Technical Rescue for a Confined Space Rescue Box Alarm, which brought technical rescue experts and extra firefighters. Command also requested a stand by alert for Flight for Life. Technical rescue experts, mechanics, and equipment from several fire departments responded to the scene along with firefighter crews for extra personnel.
Fire departments from Buffalo Grove, Cary, Fox River Grove, Harvard, Hebron, Hoffman Estates, McHenry, Lake Zurich, Nunda Rural, Streamwood, Wauconda, Wonder Lake, and Woodstock sent Technicians and/or mechanics to the scene.
Fire chiefs from Cary, Crystal Lake; and firefighters from Carpentersville, Elgin, Huntley, and West Dundee also responded to the scene.
Fox River Grove firefighter/paramedics responded with an ambulance that was used to transport the victim to the Flight for Life medical transport helicopter that landed at St Margaret Mary School, 119 South Hubbard St, just north of the accident scene.
The victim was extricated at about 2:47 p.m. and was transferred to the Flight for Life Helicopter that had landed at about 2:35 p.m. Flight for Life then transported the 17-year-old male victim to Level I Trauma Center Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. The extent of injuries of the victim were not released.
Route 31 was closed for a short time, as it was considered as a possible Landing Zone for the helicopter before the parking lot at St. Margaret Mary was chosen.
Raging Buffalo Snowboard Ski Park closed immediately after the accident, remained closed Sunday night, and will be closed Monday.
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