Portsmouth Firefighters Treat Injured Barge Crew Member

The Portsmouth Fire Department aided a crew member aboard a barge in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay who fell and suffered multiple injuries.

Portsmouth Fire Department Dep. Chief MIchael P. O’Brien said the barge was near Dyer Island and under control of a tug boat when the 70-year-old man fell about five feet to the deck.

Portsmouth’s Marine 2 responded from East Passage Yachting Center and found the barge about 15 minutes after the call came in at around 9:16 p.m. on Dec. 11.

The U.S. Coast Guard was at the scene when Portsmouth firefighters arrived. Portsmouth EMTs boarded the boat and began treating the victim, who had suffered head trauma, though the injuries don’t appear life threatening, O’Brien said.

“The patient’s position on the barge required an intensive extrication of the patient form the barge and transfer to the Coast Guard vessel,” O’Brien said.

Portsmouth responders stayed with the patient on the Coast Guard vessel and provided care during the trip back to the marina where a Portsmouth Ambulance was waiting for transport to Rhode Island Hospital.

Portsmouth crews are experts in water rescues and marine incidents. Along with the town’s land boundaries, they cover 36 square miles of open water, seven islands and 49 miles of coastline.

Last year, the department responded to 185 marine calls and they work all year, not just during the busy summer months when tourists and locals flock to the water.

“Portsmouth firefighters enjoy a high level of proficiency in marine operations due to high call volume and continued training,” O’Brien said.

Responders included Lt. Carl Bowley, FF. Denis Canario, FF. Tim Gumkowski, and FF. Conor O’Neill.