Montchanin – At 9:17 am Wilmington Firefighters (WFD) on the B platoon were alerted to assist the Talleyville Fire Company with a high angle rescue at 2900 Monchanin Road, according to WFD Spokesman James Jobes.
Jobes said the Talleyville Fire Company was initially dispatched for an injured person from a fall. The Talleyville BLS crew arrived to find an adult female inside of an old stone water tower, near the top, injured from falling off a ladder. The patient was assessed by the medical crews and additional resources were requested, adding Wilmington Fire Department Ladder 2 and Squad 4 as part of the high angle county response.
Upon arrival of the Wilmington units, crews teamed up with rescuers from the Talleyville Fire Company to prepare the patient for a rescue utilizing the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit, Trooper 4. The crews stabilized and packaged the patient for raise and lower operation using Trooper 4. The patient was flown from the tower to a nearby field were the patient was transferred to awaiting ground units. The patient was transported to the Wilmington Hospital by Talleyville Fire Company. The incident was placed under control by the incident commander, Talleyville Fire Company Fire Chief Tom Looney.
Approximately 20 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene. The following departments responded: Talleyville Fire Company, Wilmington Fire Department, the New Castle County High Angle Confined Space Rescue (HACSR) team, New Castle County Paramedics, and Delaware State Police Aviation Unit.
Officials with New Castle County Paramedics said that at approximately 8:25 am this morning, July 19, 2017, New Castle County Paramedics, Wilmington and Talleyville Fire Companies, High Angle Confined Space and Rescue, Delaware State Police helicopter were dispatched to the 2000 block of Montchanin Road for a person fallen in an empty water tower, performing maintenance.
Upon Talleyville Fire Company arrival, they noted the need for further assistance due to the patient being in a water tower. All responding agencies worked together to remove the patient from the water tower. The patient was placed in a rescue basket and hoisted from the water tower by Delaware State Police helicopter. The patient, 59-year-old female, suffered injuries to her head, arm, neck and back.
The patient was transported to Wilmington Hospital via Talleyville Fire Company ambulance accompanied by New Castle County Paramedics. The patient was in serious condition at the time of transport.
New Castle County Police Department are investigating the incident.
Image Credits: WFD