Police officers braved below-freezing temperatures to help rescue a man who fell into the water at a marina in Groton on Wednesday.
The Groton Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call around 7:21 p.m. on Wednesday reporting that a man had fallen into the water at Spicer’s Marina, located at 92 Marsh Road in Noank. The caller, who was a friend of the man, reportedly said he was losing feeling in his limbs, according to the Town of Groton Police Department.
The first officer at the scene located the man in the water who was being supported by his friend, police said. The friend told the officer he found the man submerged and secured him to the dock to keep his head above the water. According to police, the man had reportedly been in the water for 15 minutes and was experiencing loss of movement in his arms and legs.
The officer requested additional units as they held the man’s wrist to keep him afloat until help arrived, police said.
Arriving officers helped clear large chunks of ice from the area to allow rescuers to remove the man from the water, according to police.
“After a coordinated effort, officers and the friend were able to pull him onto the dock before he was transferred to a rescue stretcher provided by responding fire personnel,” police said.
The man was transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
“Officers later learned that the friend had dropped the man off at the marina earlier in the evening and asked him to send a text message after boarding his boat. When no message was received, the friend returned to the marina and found him struggling in the water. After an initial attempt to help was unsuccessful, he called 911, police said.
Officers were assisted at the scene by the Noank Fire Department, Groton Long Point Police Department, Groton Long Point Fire Department, Mystic River Ambulance, Groton Ambulance and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital personnel.
