Rescue, EMS, and NCFD responded to a man down inside a tanker at the Detyens Shipyard on the old naval base. On board the 5 million gallon US Navy Ocean Going fuel barge, Maritrans 300 out of Dallas, Texas, a worker reportedly fell approximately 10 feet onto the steel ribbing inside the ballast holding tanks. Access to the patient was through an 18 inch by 24 inch hatch, and then down approximately 50 to 60 feet by way of two steel ladders with a small landing between the two ladders. Initial reports were that the patient was category 3 with possible neck and back injuries. After setting up a tripod EMT/Rescue Specialist Kenny Mercer, Chasn Co Rescue Squad and Rescue Specialist/Paramedic Jim Ciali, Chasn Co EMS, descended into the ballast tanks of the barge, with a safety line attached.
After evaluating the patient it was decided that the patient would need to be removed via a SKED stretcher. A cervical collar was placed on the patient and he was packaged in the SKED. Members of the NCFD hauled the patient up using the tripod winch, a fall protection devices was
used as a backup for the lift.
Once the patient was on the deck of the barge he was placed into a stokes basket and moved onto the pier by a shipyard crane to an awaiting Charleston County EMS unit on the pier.
