A tower tech was rescued Monday afternoon from a broadcast tower at WTVO-TV/WQRF-TV in Rockford, Illinois, after suffering what officials believe was a dehydration-related medical emergency 275 feet above ground, according to WTVO.
Rockford Fire and the Northwest Fire Protection District responded to the station at 1917 N. Meridian Road just after 3 p.m. Monday, according to WTVO.
The climber was on the tower with a co-worker performing a routine equipment inspection when he began experiencing symptoms and was unable to continue his descent unassisted. Temperatures were around 80 degrees at the time of the call, and rescue crews had to work against rain and the threat of storms moving through the area, according to WTVO.
Because of the climber’s position high on the structure, a technical rescue team was brought in to bring him down safely. He was lowered to the ground around 6 p.m. — roughly three hours after the initial call — and remained conscious throughout the descent, according to WTVO. He was transported to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition.
Neither the climber’s name nor his employer has been released.
