Calif. man rescued after falling 40 feet onto concrete
Rescuers had to bring injured worker up narrow staircase described as 'covered in greasy product residue'
By Richard K. De Atley
The Press Enterprise
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Rancho Cucamonga firefighters struggled to rescue a man who fell 40 feet onto a concrete floor Wednesday at a metal forging and fabrication plant.
Rescuers had to bring the injured worker up a narrow staircase described as "covered in greasy product residue."
Firefighters were called to the plant in the 11700 block of Arrow Route shortly after 9:20 a.m. An unidentified man had suffered major injuries after falling through a 3-by-4-foot floor opening that did not have guard rails around it, Fire Department officials said in a news release.
Firefighters had to make their way down the slick, narrow staircase and then back up with the victim, who could only be carried in a chair stretcher.
A helicopter called to take the victim to a local trauma center had to be canceled because the victim needed to be transported in a seated position. A ground ambulance was used instead.
As firefighters were tending to the fall victim, another employee at the plant fell ill. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to a local hospital.
More than a dozen firefighters were at the incident, along with sheriff's deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga station and AMR ambulance crews.
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