GROTON, CT — Town of Groton Police officers rescued a man from freezing waters at a marina Wednesday evening after he had been submerged for approximately 15 minutes.
The Groton Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 7:21 p.m. Jan. 28 reporting that a man had fallen into the water at Spicer’s Marina, located at 93 Marsh Road in Noank.
The caller, a friend of the man, reported the victim was losing feeling in his limbs.
The first officer on scene found the man in the water being supported by his friend, who had discovered him submerged and secured him to the dock to keep his head above water.
The man was experiencing loss of movement in his arms and legs due to the freezing temperatures.
The officer held the man’s wrist and kept him afloat with the friend’s assistance until additional units arrived.
Additional officers cleared large chunks of ice from the area, allowing rescuers to safely remove the man from the water.
Officers and the friend pulled him onto the dock before he was transferred to a rescue stretcher provided by responding fire personnel.
The man was transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries related to cold-water submersion.
The friend had dropped the man off at the marina earlier in the evening and asked him to send a text message after boarding his boat.
When no message was received, the friend returned to the marina and found him struggling in the water.
After an initial attempt to help was unsuccessful, the friend called 911.
Town of Groton Police were assisted by the Noank Fire Department, Groton Long Point Police, Groton Long Point Fire Department, Mystic River Ambulance, Groton Ambulance and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital personnel.
