Climbing atop rocks to take photos results in severe injury for Bangor man

Rescue personnel from multiple agencies at the scene of Saturday rescue in The Forks (Courtesy photo)

THE FORKS, Maine - The Maine Warden Service, teaming up with several other local emergency rescue agencies, freed a man who had fallen and was pinned between some large rocks Saturday afternoon.

Clayford Cabilas, 30, of Bangor and his friend, Precious Magallanes, 27, of the Philippines, had just finished a hike on the Mosquito Mountain Trail in The Forks around 2:45 p.m.

But before getting in their vehicle, they climbed up some large rocks that recently were moved there by heavy equipment in order to get a picture. Once atop the rocks, Cabilas lost his balance and fell, causing one of the rocks to shift.

Cabilas fell in between the rocks and the rock that shifted, causing his arm and leg to be pinned. Magallanes tried unsuccessfully to free Cabilas and repeatedly tried to reach 911, but due to poor cell coverage, was unable to connect. At 3:50, she did successfully reach 911, and the Maine Warden Service, West Forks Fire and Rescue, Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance, NorthStar Ambulance, Somerset County Sherriff's Off and LifeFlight responded to the scene at approximately 4:15 p.m.

Finding Cabilas pinned, with a fractured arm and leg, head injury, and becoming increasing hypothermic, crews utilized the Jaws of Life and airbags to move and secure the large rock, and eventually free Cabilas.

Once freed, Cabilas was moved to a waiting LifeFlight helicopter and transported to Northern Lights Hospital In Bangor.