Jeanette DeForge
masslive.com
(TNS)
SPRINGFIELD — A man floated at least a half-mile down the Connecticut River all while yelling for help after accidentally submerging his Jeep in the water Sunday afternoon.
The victim was rescued by Springfield firefighters who launched a rescue boat from the Agawam shore. He was taken to Baystate Medical Center for treatment of injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening, Springfield Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte said.
At about 2:30 p.m., the man was driving along the shore at Bondi’s Island. He is believed to have hit a soft spot at the water’s edge and somehow ended up submerging his vehicle in the river, Piemonte said.
The man was able to escape from the Jeep as it was sinking but couldn’t swim to shore. Even though it hasn’t rained in three weeks or so, the current in that area is still strong, and it carried him downstream, he said.
Bystanders heard him yell for help and called 911. Police and firefighters from Springfield, West Springfield, Agawam and Longmeadow all responded to assist with the rescue, Piemonte said.
Knowing how the current in the river typically flows, Springfield firefighters launched a rescue boat from the Springfield Yacht and Canoe Club, located on River River in Agawam. At the same time the Fire Department’s incident commander set up a watch on the South End Bridge using binoculars to track the location of the man, Piemonte said.
Police from the different communities also monitored both sides of the Connecticut River from the shore so they could direct firefighters on the boat and make sure the man didn’t go below the water surface, he said.
Firefighters were able to pull him out of the water and onto the boat near the yacht club. He was carried into an AMR ambulance waiting at the club, he said.
Piemonte estimated the man, whose name and age were not available, was in the water for about 10 minutes since it takes Springfield firefighters less than six minutes to respond to the Yacht Club and launch a boat. Water temperature was about 60 degrees at the time.
His car was towed out of the river later in the afternoon, Piemonte said.
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