Sailor Rescued After 2-Deck Fall On Dry-Docked Ship

San Diego firefighters rigged a pulley system to rescue an injured sailor who fell down a 20-foot hatch on the USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) in drydock Thursday. A medic was lowered into the narrow hatch to tend to the injured man, who was then hauled up with ropes, a fire spokesman said. The sailor was taken to a trauma center with head and possible leg injuries, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Capt. Joe Amador said.

A special Fire Department rescue squad was sent to BAE Systems ship repair docks on Belt Street in Barrio Logan about 9 a.m. The crew carries technical rescue gear, including an A-frame that can span a hole and secure ropes in a pulley directly above it, Amador said. He said the sailor had fallen into a hole two decks deep. It wasn’t clear if he fell the entire distance from the top or was part-way down before slipping. The rescue took about 50 minutes, Amador said.