The first responders were called to assist after a 58 year-old Finley man was found collapsed on the roof of his home about 5.48pm last Wednesday, December 1.
After an initial assessment of the home by officer in charge Deputy Captain Bernard Thomson and Deputy Captain Phill Thompson, the delicate rescue was in full swing.
‘‘After the man was deemed stable the crews went to work assembling an elaborate system of pulleys and anchors, which enabled firefighters Baily Coombs and Grant Wilson to secure themselves in safety harnesses,’’ Dep Capt Thompson said.
‘‘Once secured, the two men ascended the property and secured the incapacitated man in a ‘stokes lifter’ using a spinal board to lift him into the unit.
‘‘Four attending personnel — including a paramedic — assisted in lowering the patient by ‘sliding’ the man down the ladder, where another paramedic was waiting to load him into the ambulance trolley.
‘‘It turned out to be a well thought through rescue, and placed the emphasis more on safety than speed.
‘‘It was an excellent result by all parties that were in attendance to work as a team to have the result where no one was injured, and the first concern was for the patient that had collapsed on the roof.’’
The rescue took almost two hours to complete.
Dept Capt Thomson said the man was conscious and talking when he was removed from the roof, but appeared unable to walk or stand.
He was taken to Finley Hospital for further assessment.
Firefighters believe he may have been on the roof at least 45 minutes before he was found, and authorities were called.
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