By Jill Harmacinski
The Eagle-Tribune
ANDOVER, Mass. — A training drill on the Merrimack River quickly turned into a river rescue for Lawrence firefighters Wednesday.
Lawrence firefighters, who were conducting “familiarization drills” in a boat, jumped into action to rescue a capsized kayaker in the Andover stretch of the river, said Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty.
Firefighters initially spotted the kayaker, an unidentified 51-year-old man, and exchanged waves with him.
But about 10 minutes later, firefighters saw the kayak overturned and a paddle floating in the water. The kayaker was found in the water nearby.
Firefighters immediately grabbed the man, pulled him into their boat and started CPR at 12:30 p.m. He was rushed to the Eaton Street boathouse in South Lawrence, where other firefighters on duty and Lawrence General Hospital paramedics were waiting, Moriarty said.
The man was initially taken to LGH and later transferred to a Boston hospital, firefighters said.
A resident of the Merrimack Valley, the man’s identity was not released Wednesday. He was being treated at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston Wednesday night, according to Stephen O’Connell, spokesman for the Essex District Attorney’s Office.
The rescue was led by Capt. Tara Reardon and firefighters James Armano and Jamiel Ortiz, who were assisted by firefighters Wednesday, said Lawrence Deputy Fire Chief John McInnis.
Both Moriarty and McInnis praised firefighters for their swift efforts.
Andover police Chief Patrick Keefe said his department is investigating the incident along with state police detectives assigned to the Essex District Attorney’s Office.
___
(c)2016 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)