OGLETHORPE COUNTY, Ga. — A person was taken to the hospital Friday night after falling through a concrete porch into a hole about 20 feet deep in northeast Georgia, according to fire officials.
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The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team was called to help Oglethorpe County Fire with the complex rescue on the evening of Oct. 23.
Rescuers faced more hazards from unstable concrete above the person, requiring crews to carefully plan their approach to protect both the patient and emergency personnel.
After assessing the scene, the technical rescue team developed a plan to safely reach and remove the person. Crews carefully removed unstable sections of concrete surrounding the patient and used a ladder to create an elevated anchor point for a rope rescue system.
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Because of the person’s condition and the confined space, rescuers secured the patient in a Stokes basket, a specialized rescue stretcher.
The team then used a mechanical raising system to lift the person out of the hole. Crews lowered the patient through an opening in the basement wall before transferring the person to waiting emergency medical personnel.
The unidentified individual was taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for further treatment. Officials have not released details about the person’s condition.
“This incident highlights the importance of specialized training, sound decision-making, and coordination between agencies when responding to complex technical rescues,” Athens-Clarke County Fire Chief Nate Moss said.
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