By Jonathan Mattise
The Philadelphia Inquirer

FOLCROFT, Pa. — A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued two Peco workers from atop a 130-foot power pole in Delaware County yesterday.

The workers were doing maintenance on a transmission line near Chester Pike and Oak Lane in Folcroft when the bucket of their high-lift truck malfunctioned about 9:45 a.m., Peco spokeswoman Cathy Engel said.

The two men, who had harnessed themselves to an arm of the tower as a precaution, grabbed the arm and stayed there until the chopper arrived at 12:20 p.m.

Officials did not release the workers' names.

"It's the first time I've seen something like this," said Tom Weber, assistant chief of the Folcroft Fire Company.

The Coast Guard dispatched the helicopter from Atlantic City.

A crewman lowered to the tower arm was blown side to side in the wind before grabbing the first worker. Ten minutes later, the crewman wrapped his legs around the second worker's torso, and they were reeled in.

The Peco employees were taken to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby. Both had symptoms of hypothermia but no other injuries, Weber said. They were released about 3 p.m., Engel said.

Train service on the track below was shut down, and electricity on the lines was turned off, Weber said. Electricity to the surrounding area was not disrupted, Engel said.

Peco and local authorities determined that an aerial rescue was safer than using another truck, Engel said.

Peco will investigate the malfunction, he said.

One of the employees has been with the company since 2001; the other joined in 2002, Engel said.