Dix Hills Fire Department Rescues Football Coaches from Lift Truck

Volunteer firefighters from the Dix Hills Fire Department rescued two football coaches stuck 30-feet in the air on a bucket truck during the Homecoming game at Half Hollow Hills High School East on Vanderbilt Parkway, Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2015.

The two Smithtown High School East coaches became trapped in the truck’s  bucket when the hydraulic lift malfunctioned at about 4:15 p.m. Dix Hills Rescue Squad personnel were standing by with an ambulance for the first game of the season when the incident occurred. Four Dix Hills fire engines including the department’s ladder truck, three ambulances, first responder and paramedic units arrived on the scene within three minutes to begin the rescue.

The 75-foot ladder truck was brought onto the field and deployed as rescue operations commenced, under the command of Assistant Chiefs Alan Berkowitz and Joe Williamson. Firefighter Matt Stio scaled the ladder first and assisted Coach Tyler O’Neill onto the ladder and they climbed down to safety. Firefighter Jacquelyn Stio (Matt’s sister) then climbed the ladder and assisted Coach Tim Kopiske down to safety. The entire rescue operation was accomplished within 15 minutes without injury or incident. Once back on the ground, the grateful coaches thanked the 35 Dix Hills firefighters and emergency medical personnel that responded for their assistance.

Story and Photos by Steve Silverman