According to releases from Branson MO Fire-Rescue and Branson Professional Firefighters Local 152, emergency crews conducted a technical rope rescue Sunday afternoon after a person became stranded while rappelling from Table Rock Dam.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., were dispatched to a technical rescue after reports of a person rappelling off the dam.
Initial reports suggested the individual could be accessed from the south side of the dam near Lake Taneycomo. However, upon arrival, firefighters determined the person was suspended on the Taneycomo side of the dam and unable to reach the ground because the rope being used was not long enough to complete the descent.
Rescue operations were shifted to the top of the dam, and Highway 165 across the dam was temporarily closed to traffic. Chief 1 and Chief 2 also responded to assist with the incident.
Fire personnel lowered a longer rope and a backup safety line to the stranded individual. After the person was securely attached to both lines, rescuers safely lowered them to ground level.
No injuries were reported.
Branson Police officers and Taney County Sheriff’s deputies assisted at the scene. Emergency crews operated for just over two hours, with traffic over the dam impacted for a portion of the rescue effort.
The individual, not named in the releases, was issued a federal summons according to Taney County Sheriff Brad Daniels.
Daniels tells Ozarks First that his deputy on the scene indicated that a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official was on the scene and issued the citation for illegally rappelling down a federally controlled dam.
