A technical rescue team lowered the injured maintenance worker through the center of the Bradenton tank after he fell while sandblasting

By Amaia Gavica
The Bradenton Herald

BRADENTON, Fla. — Firefighters and a special rescue team came to the aid of a man who fell inside a Bradenton water tower while performing maintenance work on Wednesday.

City of Bradenton Fire Department Chief Tim Geer told the Bradenton Herald that the worker fell while sandblasting the water tower and suffered a possible ankle fracture.

A technical rescue team was called to the site and performed a “high-angle rescue,” lowering the worker through the center of the tank to emergency responders, according to Geer.

Geer said the man was OK after the incident.

The rescue team included members from several Manatee County fire districts.

The entire rescue took about an hour, “which is pretty good for our team members,” Geer said.

“That shows the level of training that we have here in the city of Bradenton and Manatee County,” Geer said. “Very thankful for that, and thankful for the good outcome of the patient.”

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