Firefighters performed a “not your average” rescue after a man fell and injured himself aboard a cargo ship docked at the Waukegan Harbor, fire officials said.
The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 3:45 p.m. on October 1 to National Gypsum Company, 515 East Sea Horse Drive in Waukegan, for a rescue call.
Fire officials said a victim had fallen through a hatch on a docked ship near the shoreline.
A 911 caller reported the man was on a conveyor belt and was in a difficult-to-access area.
The incident occurred aboard the Sam Laud, a large cargo ship that required firefighters to set up a ladder truck.
Waukegan fire stations one and four responded to the call.
Fire officials said the fire department’s ladder truck bucket was raised and positioned to the second floor of the ship.
The injured victim was fully immobilized and placed into a stokes basket by firefighters.
Firefighters placed the victim on the ladder bucket and lowered it to ground level.
Crews transferred the man onto a stretcher and loaded him into an awaiting ambulance.
He was transported to the hospital with injuries that were reported to be non-life-threatening.
“Excellent teamwork by all crews involved in a successful rescue,” fire officials said, adding that it was “not your average call.”