By FireRescue1 Staff
LARGO, Fla. — A firefighter was seriously injured Wednesday during a bailout training exercise.
Largo Fire Rescue officials stated that the firefighter was rappelling out of a second-story window when his equipment failed, causing him to fall one story. After landing on his back, the firefighter sustained a spine fracture, reported the Tampa Bay Times.
According to Largo Fire Chief Shelby Willis, the firefighter was training with recently purchased equipment. A harness attached to a belay line and a device that stops a fall both failed during the incident.
An investigation by the state fire marshal is underway.