Employee Removed From Maryland Water Tower

Dec. 5, 2005
A Prince George's County Fire Department aerial rescue team lowered the employee to the ground.

Firefighters in Prince George's County, Md., say a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission employee working on a water tower became unconscious Monday morning due to a medical emergency.

A Prince George's County Fire Department aerial rescue team lowered the employee to the ground on a Stokes basket about 11:30 a.m., said fire department spokesman Mark Brady.

The water tower is located in the 4500 block of Allentown Road on property owned by Andrews Air Force Base, in Morningside, Md.

Brady said the man was 200 feet above the ground on a platform.

WSSC spokesman Al Richardson identified the man as 23-year-old Joshua Dinson, an electrical engineer.

Brady said Dinson had been part of a crew performing maintenance on the tower when he "experienced some sort of medical emergency."

Brady said Dinson was fading in and out of consciousness and was not able to climb down on his own.

Dinson began working with the water utility in September, Richardson said. He was transported to a nearby hospital and is condition is not known.

Andrews A.F.B. fire department fire chief was the incident commander. Also responding from the Base fire department was Rescue squad 74, Tower 74, Chief 74B and Chief 74A.

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