Santa Gets Stuck 60 Feet Up! Connecticut Firefighters Rescue Claus After Rappel Mishap
Santa got stuck mid-air during a holiday event in Connecticut—thankfully, local firefighters were ready to pull him to safety! 🌐 #News #FairfieldCountyCT #Connecticut #Accident
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT – A Christmas event in Norwalk, Connecticut, took an unexpected turn over the weekend when Santa Claus needed a bit of help from local firefighters. The man dressed as Santa was participating in a festive rappel down a 13-story building when he got stuck 60 feet above the ground, prompting a technical rescue operation.
Santa’s Rappel Goes Awry at Holiday Extravaganza
The incident unfolded on Saturday evening during the Norwalk Holiday Extravaganza, a popular local event. Santa, who was rappelling down the side of the building at 50 Washington Street, encountered a problem when part of his costume became tangled in the rigging. The mishap left him stuck mid-air at a height of 60 feet, creating a precarious situation.
Around 6:26 p.m., the City of Norwalk Fire Department Local 830 arrived on the scene, ready to assist. The department quickly mobilized a rescue company, truck company, engine company, and shift commander, totaling 13 personnel. Meanwhile, a separate engine company, already stationed on-site for “firewatch,” made initial contact with Santa, communicating with him through a sixth-story window.
We reached out to Mrs. Claus at the North Pole and in an exclusive interview she told us, “Well, I always said he should stick to chimneys, but does he listen? No! Now he’s dangling from a building. I hope he remembers this next time he wants a ‘new holiday tradition.'”
Firefighters Work Quickly to Free Santa
Once on the scene, firefighters took immediate action to free Santa from his predicament. A safety line was securely attached to him and anchored inside the building. To complete the rescue, a window was removed, allowing firefighters to pull Santa safely inside. Photos shared by the fire department capture the dramatic scene of Santa dangling from the building before being carefully brought to safety.
“There were no reported injuries to firefighters or to Santa who is going to stick to chimneys from now on and leave the rappelling to NFD Firefighters,” the fire department said in a statement.
We were able to interview Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer who said, “Next time, I’ll just light the way for him on a sleigh ride instead—seems a lot safer than this ‘rappel’ business!”
A Successful and Lighthearted Rescue
Despite the unusual situation, the rescue operation went smoothly, and there were no injuries reported for either Santa or the responding firefighters. The fire department’s quick response and teamwork ensured that the holiday event continued without further incident, leaving attendees with a memorable story to tell.
Santa, it seems, will be sticking to traditional holiday duties from now on—leaving the rappelling to the professionals. Visit the heroes of the Norwalk Professional Fire Fighters Association here. Merry Christmas!
RELATED TOPICS: Accidents | Christmas | Connecticut
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