By O’Ryan Johnson
Boston Herald
LOWELL, Mass. — A state police helicopter pilot lowered the skids of his aircraft into the icy waters of the Merrimack River last night during the “daring” rescue of an emotionally distraught man, a department spokesman said.
Lowell police and firefighters responded about 7 p.m. to a report of a person screaming in the river in the area of the Aiken Street Bridge, state police spokesman David Procopio said. There, firefighters located an emotionally distraught man who was sitting in “waist-deep, icy water,” Procopio said.
Although police and fire crews launched two boats to rescue the man, Procopio said they became disabled when their propellers were damaged by ice.
By the time a state police helicopter piloted by Trooper John Hazelrigg and carrying Tactical Flight Officer Russ Phippen arrived on scene, Procopio said, they could see that the man “was now neck high” and “was becoming immobile and likely hypothermic.”
Procopio said the troopers flew to nearby LeLacheur Park, where they landed, allowing Phippen to move to a rear seat for a “daring” rescue attempt.
After flying back to the victim, Procopio said, Hazelrigg flew so low that “the aircraft’s skids were in the water” and Phippen “opened the door and, strapped in, hung outside the helicopter and grabbed the hypothermic victim, who was not moving on his own.”
Procopio said the man was pulled aboard and flown to Lowell Hospital, where he received emergency care and was expected to survive.
In a statement, Procopio said, “State Police Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin applauded the heroic work of Troopers Hazelrigg and Phippen and expressed gratitude to Lowell Fire and Police, and all other responders, for their assistance.”
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