Lieutenant Peter McLain and Sergeant Brian Rumrill of the New York State Police Aviation Unit were honored for a high-risk 2016 rescue Wednesday.
McLain and Rumrill are both four year veterans of the aviation unit and received the inaugural Life Saving Award for the 2016 rescue of Maddie Popolizio and Blake Alois high school sweethearts from Niskayuna. In December 2016, Popolizio and Alois were hiking Algonquin Peak, in the Adirondacks, when whiteout conditions caused them to tumble off the peak. At roughly 5,100 feet, Algonquin is the second tallest mountain in New York State. The two were stranded for two nights while law enforcement officials raced against the clock to find them.
Mike Green, the Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, and New York State Police Superintendent George Beach II presented the award at the state police hangar at Albany International Airport. It’s for law enforcement officers who perform a courageous and unselfish act that results in saving a human life.
Lt. McClain remembered the search:
“It was amazing, it was pretty amazing the emotions were pretty high there was a lot of adrenaline we were just happy to be able to do it. I remember looking back at Maddie and she just had a smile on her face. Blake was kind of out of it at that point but it was an amazing effort by everybody. The guys on that mountain, that would have been the third night on that mountain; I don’t know how things would have fared.” said McClain
Alois recalled the 48 hours and what the pair did to stay alive:
“Just praying that someone would find us and just help us. Were just sticking it together cause I kept falling asleep and if you fall asleep in the snow you’re not going to wake up. So, she just kept waking me up and nudging me and just making sure I was there so we could stay together and both push through.” said Alois
Sgt. Rumrill modestly credited the rescue to timing.
“We had actually taken off from camp at the bottom of the mountain and as we flew by unbeknownst to us by them a search party was just above them so they heard our helicopter and started screaming and the search party found them, so it was perfect timing really.” said Rumrill
Pololizio and Alois, who are now 21 and 22 attending UAlbany, said they were thrilled to be able to show their support for the men who rescued them.
“It’s also amazing to be in front of this helicopter, this was named after the rescue so it’s absolutely amazing to be standing in front of this today, perfectly healthy with the two men who saved us. Ya I agree completely. It’s just incredible. The honor that they got today is extremely deserving and I can’t imagine two people more deserving of this award they got today.” said Alois and Popolizio
Asked if they have returned to the trails, Alois said spring break is coming up and he looks forward to getting back out there.