Wareham Firefighters Rescue Fallen Construction Worker
WAREHAM — A construction worker who fell more than 20 feet below ground into a pit on Tuesday morning has been rescued, according to the Wareham Fire Department.
Fire crews responded to the Wareham Water Pollution Control Facility at 7:19 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a fallen construction worker.
The department stated that the worker was injured in the incident, although the extent of his injuries is unknown.
He was located more than 20 feet below ground in a construction pit area, according to the department.
Captain Micky Bird and crews from Engine 1, Tower 1, and Rescue 1 responded under the command of Assistant Chief John Kelley.
Working in below freezing temperatures, they used the tower and a Stokes basket or collapsible rescue stretcher fastened with rope to rescue the worker.
Once at ground level, the injured man was given medical care by Wareham Fire and EMS before he was taken to the hospital.
The rescue took under an hour to complete, with the main operation completed by 8:11 a.m. and some crews remaining on scene to secure equipment and gather information.
"This technical rescue is exactly what our department trains extensively for," Kelley said.
"I am very proud of the firefighters who operated so well in bitter cold temperatures to safely remove this person."
A total of 21 fire department members were involved in the rescue either directly or by providing station coverage, according to the department.