Injured Cell Tower Worker Rescued From 100 Ft In Air

SUWANEE, GA -- An injured cell tower worker was rescued by Gwinnett County firefighters Monday after being unable to come down on his own.

Firefighters responded at 3:51 p.m. to a report of a person down at a cell tower site in the 4900 block of West Price Road, NE in Suwanee. The caller to 911 stated that the victim was more than 100 feet above ground on a cell tower.

The worker was not identified due to federal patient privacy laws known as HIPAA.

Crews found the worker suspended in the air near the top of the tower. The worker was ascending the tower when he experienced an injury and was unable to self-extricate. Firefighters were immediately met by a representative at the tower site who advised them that two contract climbers made access to the man, but needed the fire department’s assistance with getting him to the ground.

Rope rescue technicians from the fire department’s Technical Rescue Team quickly assessed the situation and readied a TRT member to scale the tower to reach the victim. Upon gaining access, the worker was found to be conscious, alert and breathing.

The TRT member, along with the contract climbers rigged a rescue harness and belay line to safely lower the man to the ground. The operation was methodical due to the fact that rescuers had to stabilize the worker as they prepared him for the long descent.

Paramedics transported the man to the hospital for further medical evaluation. He was reportedly part of a third-party contract crew that was doing work on the tower.

Equipment at the scene: 1-Engine, 1-Squad, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Technical Rescue Unit and 1-Battalion Chief.