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    Crane flips into water, Coast Guard rescues operator

    Sept. 22, 2023
    The man was pulled from the water and resuscitated by Coast Guard crew.
    U.S. Coast Guard
    A crane sits in the water at Wepfer Marine Drydock near Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of the incident is under investigation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Will Parris)
    A crane sits in the water at Wepfer Marine Drydock near Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of the incident is under investigation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Will Parris)

    A crane operator was pulled from the water and revived by members of the Coast Guard after his crane tipped and fell into the water at a drydock in Memphis, Tennessee.

    The incident occurred at the Wepfer Marine Drydock. Someone from a nearby towing vessel jumped in and found the operator. Then crew members from two Coast Guard ships, the Ouachita and the Obion, used a fire hose to pull the two onto the dock. 

    The man was resuscitated and monitored by Coast Guard personnel until emergency medical services arrived. 

    U.S. Coast Guard
    At Wepfer Marine Drydock, a crane reportedly collapsed into the water with one crane operator. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Will Parris)
    At Wepfer Marine Drydock, a crane reportedly collapsed into the water with one crane operator. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Will Parris)

    The crane operator was taken to a local hospital.

    "I couldn't be more proud of how our crew responded," said Chief Petty Officer Will Parris of the Coast Guard Cutter Ouachita, in a statement. "They relied on their training, experience and each other to get the gentleman the care he needed."

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    About the Author

    Rod Sutton

    Sutton has served as the editorial lead of Construction Equipment magazine and ConstructionEquipment.com since 2001. 

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