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Rescuers injured by falling bricks at Mass. construction site

EMT responding to scene sustained minor injuries

By Rita Savard
The Lowell Sun

LOWELL, Mass. — A construction worker on the Hamilton Canal redevelopment project was injured when he was struck by falling bricks from an old mill building crews were working on at 216 Jackson St. Tuesday morning, police said.

Two firefighters, a police officer and an emergency medical technician responding to the scene also sustained minor injuries, according to police Capt. Thomas Kennedy.

It was not immediately clear what specific work was being done on the mill, which authorities said is more than 100 years old.

Kennedy said the construction worker was on a scaffolding on the second floor and was struck by a significant amount of bricks that fell from the fourth story.

The worker was conscious and alert but taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. His condition was not immediately available.

Kennedy said two firefighters, the EMT and the police officer, none of whom was identified, were hit by bricks as they arrived at the scene to help the injured worker.

The officer declined medical treatment, but the others were going to be checked out by doctors, Kennedy said.

Officials for the construction company declined comment on the incident, which was reported around 10:15 a.m.

A representative of the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration was on the scene investigating at midday Tuesday.

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