MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A tree-trimming job turned into a rescue Saturday afternoon in Stuart after a man became trapped about 40 feet in the air on a broken lift.
Martin County Fire Rescue says crews were dispatched around 1 p.m. to the 8400 block of S.W. 17th Avenue.
When rescuers arrived, they found the man stuck on the lift after it stopped moving up and down. He had been trimming trees in the area when the equipment stopped working.
Because access for a ladder was limited, firefighters used a specialized rescue approach.
Crews first removed nearby tree limbs. They then used a series of high-angle rescue maneuvers to secure the man, transfer his weight and carefully bring him to safety.
Once he was back on the ground, paramedics evaluated him and determined he had minor injuries.
The man declined transportation to the hospital.
Martin County Fire Rescue credited the C-Shift crews from Heavy Rescue 23, Battalion 2, EMS 2 and EMS 22 for the rescue.