RANGELEY, Maine — Firefighters rescued a man Wednesday after he swerved to miss a deer and landed in a river.
The Franklin Sun Journal reported that crews used ropes and rappelling gear from their aerial truck to reach the driver, 58-year-old Frank Formisano. The vehicle was 50 feet down in a gorge and firefighters need to reach over the guardrail to access it.
“The scene was quite complex due to getting the right resources there and the lack of access to the patient because of where the vehicle ended up,” Cpl. Matthew Brann said.
About three hours after the call came in, firefighters were able to extricate Formisano.
“Great job, victim survived, great teamwork to save a life. Great job everyone on one of the most difficult technical rescues I have ever seen and worked,” Rangeley Fire Chief Tim Pellerin said.
Two other fire departments and a search rescue team assisted the Rangeley Fire Department in the rescue.
An ambulance crew transported Formisano to the hospital, where he was treated and later released.