Oops. One cyclist collided with another resulting in a terrifying 50-foot fall off a Virginia Beach VA bridge into the muck of a marsh. Virginia Beach Battalion Chief Tim Riley describes the incident and how it was mitigated in the following press release:
At 0820 hours this morning, Sunday, September 13, 2009, Virginia Beach ECC received a 911 call for a bicyclist who had fallen off of the Pungo Ferry Bridge. A group of 10-15 riders was travelling over the crest of the bridge from the Pungo to Blackwater side. As their speed increased, one cyclist struck hit a second cyclist, knocking he and his bicycle into and over the north side of the bridge, and into the marsh, approximately 40-50 feet below.The rider landed in the marshy area water depth was less than foot in depth, with another 1-2 foot of muck that was covered in reeds. There was an body impression in the muck a foot deep where the patient landed. By the time the other riders stopped the patient was standing in the muck stating he was alright. The soft terrain greatly aided in this patient’s survivability. Boats could not access this part of the marsh due to shallow water. The Incident Commanded Battalion Chief Dennis Keane elected to perform a vertical rescue due to the patient’s location to the bridge.
A Technical Rescue response was initiated at 0830 hours for a technical rescue with the following Dispatch:
BC-4, BC-3, EMS 6, Engine 6, Tanker 6, Ladder 21, Ladder 11, Fire Squad- 10, Fire Squad- 3, Rescue 6, Fireboat 1, EMS Boat Team. The following events then took place.
· Engine 6 arrived at 0827 hours, took Command and confirmed that one subject was in the marsh.
· Ladder 21 arrived and was used as the anchor for rappelling operation,
· At 0859 hours, Firefighter/Paramedic Courtney Walters and Firefighter Jason Probst from Fire Squad 10, B-Shift, rappelled down to the victim in the marsh.
· A primary medical assessment was then completed and the patient was stabilized.
· The patient was placed in a LSP body splint / rescue harness and hoisted by a rope system to the top of the Pungo Ferry Bridge.
· The patient was then moved to ground ambulance, treated and transported by VBEMS Rescue 6 to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital a shoulder injury.
· By 0925 hours, all personnel had been brought back to onto the Bridge and the rescue was completed.
Jeff Craddock who was riding with his son at the time of the accident stated “ his son had a headache, probably from a mild concussion; was covered in cuts and scratches from landing in the reeds; and was sore from his body tensing up as he flew through the air”.
But other than that, "he’s pretty much fine," he said. The rescue workers, he said, "were just amazing."
Public Information Officer Hedley Austin said firefighters often train for "technical rescues" – rescues in unusual locations or circumstances – but executing them is rare.
"It’s a procedure you practice day in and day out so that when it happens, hey, you’re ready," he said.
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