Town of Groton Police officers helped to rescue a man from icy West Cove waters at Spicer’s Marina Wednesday evening. (Photo Courtesy Town of Groton Police Department)
*Click here for body-worn camera footage of the rescue.*
GROTON — Town of Groton Police officers faced below-freezing temperatures as they helped to rescue a man from icy West Cove waters Wednesday evening.
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, at approximately 7:21 p.m., the Groton Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting that a man had fallen into the water at Spicer’s Marina, located at 92 Marsh Road in Noank. The caller, who was a friend of the man, reported that he was losing feeling in his limbs.
The first officer on scene located the man in the water, being supported by his friend. The friend reported that he had found the man submerged and had secured him to the dock to keep his head above water. The man had been in the water for approximately 15 minutes and was experiencing loss of movement in his arms and legs due to the freezing temperatures.
The officer immediately requested additional units and, with the assistance of the friend, was able to hold the man’s wrist and keep him afloat until help arrived.
Additional officers worked to clear large chunks of ice from the area, allowing rescuers to safely remove the man from the water. After a coordinated effort, officers and the friend were able to pull him onto the dock before he was transferred to a rescue stretcher provided by responding fire personnel.
The man was transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries related to cold-water submersion.
Officers later learned that the friend had dropped the man off at the marina earlier in the evening and asked him to send a text message after boarding his boat. When no message was received, the friend returned to the marina and found him struggling in the water. After an initial attempt to help was unsuccessful, he called 911.
Town of Groton Police were assisted at the scene by the Noank Fire Department, Groton Long Point Police, Groton Long Point Fire Department, Mystic River Ambulance, Groton Ambulance, and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital personnel.
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