Crime & Safety

Fire Department Rescues Hoarder from Merrick Home

The woman had to be extricated through a second-story window in her Beach Drive home.

LONG ISLAND, NY -- The Merrick, North Merrick and North Bellmore Fire Departments made a dramatic rescue on Friday afternoon after a family reported a woman trapped in her home.

According to Russ Robinson, ex-captain of the Merrick Fire Department, a paramedic and the coordinator of the rescue, the woman, who is 65, fell and sustained a leg injury. She had been laying on the floor of a second-story room for three to four days, when her family found her and called emergency services.

Robinson said that due to the hoarder-like condition of the house, the fire department could only safely remove her through the top window of her Beach Drive home. The North Bellmore Fire Department's technical rescue team was also called in to assist in the operation.

Find out what's happening in Merrickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The fire department cut open the window to remove the woman, who Robinson estimated to be about 400 pounds. They then wrapped her, put her in a Stokes basket and removed her from the home. She was taken to South Nassau Hospital.

Nassau County Police were also on the scene.

Find out what's happening in Merrickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The identity of the woman has not yet been released.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will have more updates as they become available.

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