Calgary firefighters rescue crane operator from 16th storey of tower
CBC
The Calgary Fire Department rescued a crane operator from about 50 metres or 16 storeys up a tower at a construction site near city hall on Wednesday.
A worker told members of the department's technical rescue team that the crane operator was having a "medical emergency," said Alex Kwan, the fire department's public information officer.
One firefighter climbed the crane to check on the operator, while other crew members prepared the rescue equipment and gear.
While the crane operator remained "alert and conscious," Kwan said, it was determined they could not climb down the tower on their own.
The rescue team then climbed up the crane while carrying equipment, and set up a rope system anchored to the peak of the tower to bring the patient down.
The crane operator was harnessed to a rescuer and safely lowered to the ground.
The patient was then treated by EMS.
The entire operation went "quite smoothly," Kwan said, only taking about 45 minutes. Clear visibility and good weather helped.
Rescues like this one are "relatively low frequency" but require a highly specialized skill set, Kwan said.
About 90 firefighters are trained to perform technical rescues, which involves specialized skills like using rope, vertical rescues and building collapses.
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