NewsRescuesVideos

Rescue aboard ship in drydock. Video as Tampa crews deal with two workers overcome by fumes on Coast Guard vessel.

Above is Tampa Fire Rescue raw video.

Details on Sunday afternoon rescue by Beau Zimmer from WTSP-TV:

Two men working inside the hull of a dry docked Coast Guard ship are safe tonight after firefighters say they were overcome by fumes while cleaning a water tank on board.

Image from Tampa Fire Rescue
Image from Tampa Fire Rescue

HAZMAT crews arrived to the scene at Riverhawk Marine off Tyson Avenue in South Tampa. The company builds and refurbishes marine vessels, many used by the military, according to the company’s owner.

Two workers were initially overcome but rescue crews say one was able to make it out on his own, while the other remained inside, possibly disoriented and unable to escape.

Tampa Fire HAZMAT crews pumped fresh air inside the ship’s hull as firefighters prepared to crawl inside the narrow water tank where the worker was trapped. The man was eventually rescued and taken to Tampa General Hospital, conscious and alert.

The owner of the company believes at least one of the workers may have taken off his breathing apparatus while cleaning, allowing him to breath in the fumes. Firefighters say if the worker had been exposed to the chemicals longer, the situation could have become life threatening.

Related Articles

Back to top button