Syracuse, N.Y. – At approximately 7:38 p.m. August 9, 2019 Engine 3 (808 Bellevue Avenue) and the Rescue Company responded to Tallman Street at Onondaga Creek for a report of someone in the water. Crews found an adult male clinging to a dead tree in the rapidly moving creek. The rescue was made increasingly more dangerous by the high winds, heavy rains and lightning.
A Rescue Firefighter wearing specialized protective gear and tethered by a rope system, made his way to the victim. The rescuer fitted the victim with a floatation device and secured him to the rope system. Crews on shore were able to then pull both the victim and the rescuer to shore.
The victim was then placed into a stokes basket and crews utilized a low angle rope rescue system to get him to the street level. The victim was alert and breathing when turned over to AMR for medical care and transportation to the hospital. SPD was also on the scene. No injuries were reported.
