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02/25/2019 11:00 PMIt was luck that drove the quick response of the Deep River Fire Department in a recent rescue in town involving a pick-up truck, its driver, icy conditions, and a stream. The accident occurred across Elm Street/Route 80 from the Deep River Fire Department; the truck plunged into the Deep River behind the vacant parking lot.
According to Fire Chief Tim Lee, because it was a Wednesday night, the usual night for the fire department’s meetings and training, when the truck crashed into the stream, volunteers returning to their cars after the meeting saw the truck in the stream.
“I am not sure if anyone witnessed the actual accident, or would have seen it, if we weren’t having our meeting and people weren’t in that parking lot,” said Lee.
“Before the siren tones were even done going off, we had people in the cold-water survival suits, running across the street, to get in the water and save the driver,” said Lee.
At press time, the accident was believed to have occurred due to a medical condition of the driver, who was reportedly conscious and alert when the firefighters reached him and retrieved him from the vehicle. They got him to dry land and warmed up, then he was taken to the Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook for observation. He was reportedly released the same evening.
“He was very lucky,” said Lee. “We had him out and warming up within minutes of the accident and the water temperature was very cold.”
Lee attributes the fast-acting response of his department to the constant training they partake in.
“You never know when you are going to need it,” he said. “That’s why it is so important to train and practice for emergencies all the time.”
He added, “We had just completed our cold-water training a couple weeks ago and I think that’s why this rescue was so successful. Those cold-water survival suits are not easy to get on, but the firefighters got them on quickly and correctly, stayed calm, and made the rescue easily and quickly and no one got injured. That’s what we want.”
The pick-up truck involved in the accident was pulled from the stream later that evening with the use of a special wrecker made for water recovery by Mal’s Auto and Repair in Old Saybrook. The Deep River volunteer firefighters remained in their rescue suits to help with the vehicle extrication. Lee explained that there was little to no physical damage to the truck, however there was water damage.
Currently there are 54 Deep River volunteer firefighters and the number is growing, which is good news for the town, Lee said.