Prince George's County public safety agencies were dispatched to check on a male standing in the middle of the Northwest Branch on Feb. 2.
An adult male was found standing in the middle of the 2 - 3 foot deep, partially frozen, frigid water directly underneath the New Hampshire Avenue Bridge.
Commands in English and Spanish were directed at the individual who did not respond and stood motionless in the water. A request for the Fire/EMS Departments Technical Rescue Team (TRT) was made to help in the removal of the individual.
As members of the TRT donned their cold weather gear and dry suits, a request was made that police officers accompany firefighters due to the unstable and unpredictable condition of the male.
The man had never displayed his left hand, and police could not determine if he was armed or not. He was displaying an altered mental status.
For the safety and well-being of everyone involved, two police officers donned cold weather gear dry suits and entered the water with the firefighters. At about 9:30 a.m., the combined rescue team of firefighters and police officers effected the removal of the man from the water.
He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia and other evaluation.
