A Lewiston man was in a waterfall pool with his son Wednesday afternoon when he saw a man at the top of Screw Auger Falls at Grafton Notch State Park stand up and slip over the falls.
Justin Audette, 42, said he saw Brexton Getchell, 21, of Unity fall more than 20 feet and hit some rocks on the way down.
Audette said he went into “dad mode” and he and Getchell’s girlfriend, who was also nearby, ran down to him.
Getchell was fully conscious and alert and even diagnosed his injuries, including possible fractures to his ribs and pelvic bone, Audette said.
“When I got there, I asked him if he was all right” and if “he was dizzy or nauseous,” Audette said. Getchell said he wasn’t dizzy or nauseous, and knew his name and knew what happened. Getchell told Audette he was pretty good, but in pain.
Audette stayed with Getchell while others, including Getchell’s girlfriend, left the waterfall, located in northern Oxford County, in an effort to get cellphone service to call 911.
Getchell was very calm and obviously in a lot of pain, Audette said.
According to posts on Facebook by Getchell’s mother, Kara Getchell, her son has fractured ribs, a fractured pelvic bone and his shoulder is banged up. He also has an air pocket in his lung caused by one of his broken ribs but is on the mend. He was still at MaineHealth Medical Center in Portland as of Friday morning.
Firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived first. They lowered medical bags, ropes, blankets and other gear down and Audette helped put the gear on rocks.
Audette said he assisted emergency medical services, firefighters and Mahoosuc Mountain Search and Rescue team members get Getchell through the water and up through the woods in a Stokes basket. He estimated they carried him about 300 feet through a section of Bear River in order to safely get him to an ambulance. Getchell was taken to a LifeFlight of Maine medical helicopter to the Portland hospital.
Other responders assisting included the Maine Warden Service, Bethel and Newry fire and rescue departments, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, and Maine Department of Transportation.
“It was a big team effort of about 20 people,” Audette said.
Fathers at the top of the waterfall watched Audette’s youngest child, Spencer, 8, while Audette assisted rescuers.
“We are very grateful to all that helped and will be reaching out to the different organizations in the days to come,” Kara Getchell said in a direct message on Facebook to the Sun Journal. She had already started thanking them.
Her son is in his fourth year of college at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and “he is well rounded and respectful,” she wrote in one note to responders that she shared with the Sun Journal.
“He is one lucky man. A few rib & a pelvic fracture, and pretty banged up but overall we will take that!” she wrote in an email to one group. “He is in great spirits and shuffling around to get all the pieces moving. There is MUCH gratitude from my family to you and all others that helped.”
“He simply went out to enjoy the state we live in with his girlfriend in which this fluke accident took place. He is lucky to be alive and thankful not seriously hurt over this,” she wrote.
