Westport FD, PD Rescue Man in Saugatuck River

Responding fire, police and EMS units eventually located a person in the river approximately 250 feet from the Levitt Pavilion point, according to John Plofkin, Jr., who was the Westport Fire Department Shift Commander at the time of the incident.

“Firefighter’s donned exposure suits, were then tethered by a rope and made their way out to the victim from an adjacent point on Imperial Avenue,” Plofkin said. “The victim was rescued by firefighters and brought to Westport Library parking lot using the Westport Police department’s inflatable boat.

Westport EMS members began treatment of the patient while on the boat and then transferred him to a waiting ambulance where they treated him for early signs of hypothermia, Plofkin said.

A total of three engines, one rescue vehicle with Marine 5, an inflatable boat, and the shift commander responded to the incident. The last fire unit clearing the scene at 11 pm, Plofkin said.

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