CHIEF BILL XIKIS
Selden FD & BTRTF Manager

On March 22, 2006 at approximately 0200 hours the Setauket Fire Department was activated for a person who fell into a well at Stony Brook University. Once on the scene, Chief of Department Paul DiBiase did a size up and called for a Level 3 response from the Brookhaven Technical Rescue Task Force.

A student fell down a shaft and into a water holding tank. He removed himself from the water to an adjoining vault that was dry. SUNY Fire Marshals attempted to locate the connecting tunnel to remove the victim while the rest of the Task Force set up. A tripod with a 4:1 hauling system and a tandem prusik belay safety system was set up.

As the first rescuer was hooking up to be lowered, the SUNY Fire Marshals located the victim through the underground tunnel system. He was removed and treated for hypothermia.

Responding Task Force units included Setauket Fire Department (also the host agency), Ronkonkoma Fire Department, Selden Fire Department, Centereach Fire Department, Hagerman Fire Department, Port Jefferson Fire Department, Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Company, Mt. Sinai Fire Department, and the SUNY Fire Marshals. Brookhaven Technical Rescue Task Force Leader Joe DiBernardo and Suffolk County Technical Rescue Coordinator FC-28 John Bicocchi also responded.