By George Kelly
East Bay Times
HAYWARD, Calif. — Four Hayward Fire Department firefighters with rescue experience who were training for water certification aboard a rescue boat saved a Dumbarton Bridge jumper Thursday morning, authorities said.
Just after 9:30 a.m., the California Highway Patrol received a report of an abandoned blue Mazda MZ3 near the bridge’s high-rise section, a CHP dispatcher said.
The firefighters were training on the department’s 20-foot Pro-Drive mud boat, designed for shallow-water operation, when they heard a U.S. Coast Guard call for help, Hayward fire Capt. Don Nichelson said.
The firefighters pushed off from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife launch ramp by the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve and headed toward the bridge’s abandoned pier, Nichelson said.
Firefighter Kevin Gotro said coordination with a Coast Guard helicopter helped them find the jumper, described only as a 19-year-old man, clinging to a pylon under the pier.
“We deployed our rescue swimmer, retrieved him from the pylon, and swam him back to the boat, where we brought him to safety,” Gotro said.
Firefighters treated the man for mild hypothermia, Gotro said. He had suffered bruises but was alert and able to respond to commands.
A Paramedics Plus ambulance crew took the man to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Nichelson said.
Gotro credited the good fortune of low tide around 8:45 a.m. and the presence of four of the department’s 43 state-certified rescue swimmers in full gear.
“That’s what our job is. We’re fortunate we have the boat, which is relatively new to the department, and we are on the water every day training our entire department to be water-proficient,” Gotro said.
Copyright 2016 the Contra Costa Times