Firefighters Rescue Man Trapped Inside Forklift

After 31 minutes, with paramedics administering oxygen, IV fluid and pain
medication, St Petersburg Fire & Rescue was able to free a man whose feet were trapped inside a forklift.

Around 12:45 Tuesday afternoon, firefighters received a call that a man working for Northeast Marine to work on their fork lift, was trapped between the forks and a stabilizer bar called a stage.

According to Lt. Joel S. Granata, deputy fire marshal/PIO, the man had propped wood under the forks to hold them up. While standing on top of a stabilizer bar (stages), the wood snapped, causing the forks to come crashing down and pining the man's feet in between two of the three stages.  

Firefighters, Granata said, called for their technical rescue team who has specialized equipment for such emergencies.

They were able to use their Holmatro hydraulic tools to free the man.

Granata said firefighters transported the man in stable condition as a Trauma Alert to Bayfront Medical Center.

The incident occurred at Northeast Marine, 1801 28th St. N.