Two Massachusetts State Troopers in a helicopter made a daring rescue to save a man stranded in icy water, when police and fire boats were unable to get to him.
It was eight-degrees on Jan. 3 when Air Wing members John Hazelrigg and Russell Phippen were called to the Merrimack River in Lowell to illuminate the area for rescue boats.
A 24-year-old Lowell man, who was reported missing by his family earlier, was found in the river near the Ouellette Bridge around 7:30 p.m.
@MassStatePolice Air Wing members describe an incredible water rescue of a man from the #Merrimack River in Lowell (on 1/3). How they pulled it off without the proper tools on an 8 degree night @ 11 on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/rYalIkrpRv
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) January 16, 2018
Lowell police and fire responded to the rescue, but the fire boats had difficulty reaching the man due to hazardous conditions from ice flows and shallow water.
"The fire boats, two of them I believe, had been disabled in the water due to ice or rocks," said Phippen.
As the man began to slip into deeper water, the Air Wing had to step in.
Without training or equipment for it, they landed the helicopter at LeLacheur Park on Aiken Street and the co-pilot positioned himself in the back of the chopper so he could reach the victim.
They made two attempts to pull the man from the river, resting the helicopter skids on the surface of the water. The co-pilot was able to pull the man into the helicopter.
Play-by-play of a daring rescue made on the #Merrimack River (earlier this month) by two @MassStatePolice Air Wing members who didn't have the tools or training, but pulled it off safely. Their story @ 11 on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/j9jRcolTpm
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) January 16, 2018
"I was able to grab him and just grab a piece of him and I was able to kind of pull a little bit up, and grab a little bit more," said Phippen.
Once they had him in, they flew to Lowell General Hospital where ER doctors were waiting.
The man, fighting hypothermia, was said to be OK.
Despite all of the challenges in making this rescue, both Air Wing members say if called again to do the same thing, they certainly would.
WATCH THE FORECAST | DOWNLOAD THE APPS
Cox Media Group