Marine 43 Rescues 1 Trapped in a Submerged Vehicle on Conshohocken Road
 
By Watch Desk
June 9, 2021
 

At 20:53 hours, as heavy rainfall saturated the township and surrounding areas your Plymouth Fire Company No. 1 (Montco 43) volunteers were dispatched to 1250 Conshohocken Road, underneath the railroad bridge for a water rescue. The initial 911 call came from the involved party who reported being trapped inside his vehicle in deep standing water with the water coming up to the windows.

Chief 43 went en route 2 minutes after the dispatch and Marine 43 and boats 1 and 2 with a crew of 4 shortly after. Chief 43 arrived and confirmed 1 Subject still trapped inside a vehicle in the water with water levels continuously to rise rapidly. Chief 43 then requested Conshohocken Fire Company No. 2's Marine 55 to assist and the Conshohocken Road Command was established. Within the next minute and a half the water level under the bridge had now risen up and over the vehicle's windows and roof completely submerging it and the trapped occupant.

Marine 43 arrived and 2 rescue swimmers immediately entered the water to affect the rescue as the remaining 2 crew members remained on shore with rope throw bags. Marine and Deputy 55 then arrived from the opposite side of the bridge and were assigned as the safety team. Rescue 43 with a crew of 3 then arrived and placed a third rescue swimmer into the water to assist with the rescue.

Marine 55's crew then deployed their walk in rescue boat with 2 rescue swimmers and both companies operated for the next 10 minutes to successfully extricate the victim from the vehicle. Crews then assisted the victim into the boat and all safely exited the water. The victim was then transferred to the care of Plymouth Community Ambulance Association - Medic 308 with minor injuries.

With all rescue swimmer safely back on dry land command was terminated and all units cleared the scene and were made available. Many thanks to our mutual aid and tremendous work by all crew members who operated quickly and confidently in the extreme weather conditions!