RUSSELL, MA — Police rescued a man from the Westfield River on Saturday evening after he jumped over a guardrail and fell down an embankment near Route 20.
The Russell-Montgomery Police Department received a call at 6:28 p.m. reporting an adult male staggering in and out of the roadway near the Huntington town line.
When an officer arrived and attempted to speak with the man from inside a police cruiser, the individual appeared visibly upset and incoherent while continuing to stagger into the roadway.
As the officer pulled to the roadside to attempt further communication, the man suddenly jumped over a guardrail and fell down a steep embankment toward the river’s edge.
Officers searched the shoreline with assistance from Massachusetts State Police, Hilltown Ambulance and the Russell Fire Department.
About 20 minutes later, officers located the man on the riverbank.
The man remained uncooperative and lost his footing, falling into the Westfield River.
Officers initiated water-rescue protocols and requested rescue boats from the Huntington and Westfield fire departments.
The man swam in the river for approximately 30 minutes, refusing to cooperate with emergency personnel positioned along the shoreline.
Responders eventually persuaded the man to return to shore safely.
He was treated at the scene and transported by ambulance to a hospital for medical evaluation and crisis intervention.
No emergency personnel were injured during the incident.
