New Jersey Firefighter Struck by Hose

A Fanwood volunteer firefighter was injured by a hose during a drill outside a station on Tuesday night, according to The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch.

The hose was charged and began snaking along the ground before striking Captain Stephen Szanto's legs out from under him at approximately 8:30 p.m., fire officials told the newspaper.

Szanto did a somersault in the air and struck his head on the pavement when he landed and was knocked unconscious for about a minute.

The incident occurred when the firefighters connected hoses to a "Y" valve while a connection to one of the hoses was open or opened, causing that hose to become charged with water.

Nine EMTs and first responders from the neighboring rescue squad arrived in seconds and administered oxygen before placing Szanto on a backboard and transporting him to Overlook Hospital.

An hour later, he was stabilized, conscious and talking, according to the report.

He will be held under observation for at least one night.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the incident.