Sledding at Mack’s Apples Halted After Serious Accident

By Alex Malm

A sledding mishap that took place behind the Mack’s Apple Farm Stand over the weekend has put a halt to the longstanding family tradition.

According to an Incident Report released by the Londonderry Fire Department a woman was airlifted to a Boston hospital on Sunday afternoon after she was injured while sledding on the hill behind the Farm Stand at Moose Hill Orchards.

A women was seriously injured on the hill behind Mack’s Apple Farm Stand and a sign was put up shortly after asking residents not to sled on the hill. Photo by Chris Paul

The following day, a sign was posted asking that residents not use the hill for sledding. It read, “No sledding at this time please.”

In the report, the department received the alarm and responded at 2:37 p.m. to the scene, it read, “Londonderry Fire Alarm received an E911 call from a subject on the property of 230 Mammoth Road reporting a person injured in a sledding accident. Dispatched to the scene was Londonderry Engine 1 and a mutual aid Derry Ambulance. At the time of the incident, Londonderry companies were committed to a ‘gas in the building’ call at Fieldstone Drive. Battalion Chief Butler released Rescue 1 & Engine 2 from the previous incident. Rescue 1 responded directly to the incident scene to provide manpower and equipment for a patient carry-out from a remote location at 230 Mammoth Road, not easily accessible. Engine 2 responded to Central Station to staff Medic 3, canceling the mutual aid Derry Ambulance.

Engine 1 arrived on scene to find a patient suffering traumatic injuries as a result of a sledding accident. Rescue 1 arrived on scene and utilized a stokes basket for patient removal. Due to the severity of injury, Air Medical Transport was requested. Medic 3 and Engine 2 arrived on scene establishing Incident Command.

Engine 1, Rescue 1 and Medic 3 worked to treat, package and extricate the patient to the parking lot of 230 Mammoth Road. Battalion 2 cleared from a previous incident responding to the area to establish a Landing Zone (3 Peabody Row – Saint Peter’s Church) in preparation for Air Medical Transport (Boston Med Flight).

Firefighter/Paramedics provided advanced life support treatment and transported the patient via Londonderry Medic 3 to the Landing Zone. Upon Boston Med Flight’s arrival, patient care was transferred and the patient was airlifted to a Level 1 Trauma Center.