Fort Lee Firefighter Injured in Cliff Rescue

A Fort Lee firefighter suffered minor injuries while rescuing a man who fell from an overpass along the Palisades Sunday afternoon, police said.

Julio Beltran, 49, of Fairview, fell from the Greenbrook Falls overpass, south of the Alpine Boat Basin, around 4:30 p.m., according to Acting Police Chief Michael Coppola of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police. Another man, 36-year-old Cliffside Park resident Juan Martinez, had climbed down to help Beltran.

The East Bergen Rappel Team, which includes Fort Lee firefighters, was able to quickly reach both men and bring them to safety, Coppola said. Beltran was flown to Hackensack University Medical Center in a medical helicopter with multiple “traumatic injuries.”

His condition was not immediately available Sunday night. Martinez was not injured.

Fort Lee Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Ipek fell several feet during the rescue but was caught by his role line, Coppola said in an e-mail.