Man Freed After Becoming Stuck Inside Playground Slide In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Vernon responders freed a man who had become stuck inside a playground slide over the weekend.

On Saturday, just after 4:30 p.m., the town of Vernon Fire Department, Vernon EMS and Vernon police were dispatched to Northeast Elementary School for a "confined space rescue," according to fire officials.

It turned out that a 40-year-old man had become stuck in a tube slide on the playground, according to an incident report. The man had become wedged-in "feet and head first" down the middle section of the slide, according to fire officials.

A rescue and tower truck were called in and EMS personnel provided oxygen to the man, who was in "extreme discomfort" because of hot and humid conditions, fire officials said.

As the rescue crew was deploying tools for an extrication, the tower truck crew stabilized the middle section of the slide as firefighters were removing it to reach the man, fire officials said.

The man was freed within 30 minutes and was evaluated on scene by an EMS crew. The man refused treatment and transport to a local emergency room, fire officials said.

"While this is a unique call for service for the fire department, the professionalism shown on scene was exemplary," fire officials said.