Injured Worker Rescued from 100 Feet at Gwinnett Cell Tower

Firefighters rescued an injured worker from 100 feet up a Gwinnett County cell tower Monday night.

Rescuers used a harness system to lower the man from a tower platform to the ground around 11 p.m. Monday June 9 in the 2100 block of Norcross Parkway, Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in a news release. The man was part of a maintenance crew working at the tower.

The man reportedly lost his grip on a climbing peg 125 feet up the 150-foot tower, and had been suspended unconscious for a time before rescuers arrived. He was conscious on the tower platform when first responders arrived.

“He was saved by his cable grab system, which stopped his fall of approximately 15-20 feet,” Rutledge said in the release. “He struck the tower and was suspended unconscious by his personal rope.  He regained consciousness after an undetermined amount of time and was able to lower himself a short distance to an elevated platform on the tower.”

Workers on the ground called 911.

Rutledge said the department’s Technical Rescue Team was called in for “high-angle rope rescue operations.” A ladder truck was able to reach high enough to contact the man, but was not able to retrieve him.

TRT crew members scaled the tower, made contact with the man, and lowered him to the ground with a harness.

The man complained of a shoulder injury. He was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center for evaluation.