The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team assisted in rescuing an individual who had fallen through a concrete porch into a 20-foot-deep hole on Friday evening, according to a county press release.
The team was special-called to Oglethorpe County after local responding crews were presented with significant technical challenges due to unstable concrete above the individual, requiring careful planning to ensure the safety of both the patient and rescue personnel.
Crews carefully removed unstable sections of concrete surrounding the patient and utilized a ladder to establish an artificial high point for the rope rescue system. The patient was secured in a Stokes basket and mechanically lifted from the hole.
Crews then lowered the patient through an opening created in the basement wall, where the patient was safely transferred to awaiting emergency medical personnel.
Oglethorpe County EMS transported the patient to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for further treatment.
