Accident Database: Accident #2339
| River: | Great Miami River |
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| Location: | |
| Gauge: | |
| Difficulty: | |
| Accident Code(s): | Lowhead Dam |
| Injury Code(s): | Near Drowning |
| Age: | 0 |
| Years Paddling: | >10 |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Other |
| Boat Manufacturer: | |
| Boat Model: | |
| Number of Occupants: | 0 |
| Number in Group: | 0 |
| Number of Victims: | 0 |
| Other Victim Names: | |
| Hazard Codes: | Low Head Dam, Hydraulic/Keeper Hole |
| Initial Report: | River accident that critically injured firefighter draws internal probe (http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/18/hjn041907firefighterfolo.html#) By Denise Wilson Staff Writer Thursday, April 19, 2007 HAMILTON - The Hamilton Fire Department has started an internal investigation into the training accident in the Great Miami River that critically injured a firefighter Tuesday, state officials said. While the department late Wednesday afternoon identified the firefighter critically injured as Chris Gabbard, few other details about the incident involving the rescue of four firefighters were released. The accident is also being investigated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' division of watercraft. John Wisse, the public information officer for ODNR's division of watercraft,said the state is working in cooperation with the HFD. "We are doing the accident investigation and they are doing an internal investigation, which is centered around the accident," Wisse said. "We're basically providing some assistance to them," he said. "But because of the nature of the incident we obviously want to investigate it - because that's our role. So we investigate not only the fatal boating accidents, but the other critical boating-related incidents." Gabbard, 32, of Hamilton, remained in University Hospital after being transported there by ambulance from The Fort Hamilton Hospital, the fire department said Wednesday evening. A second hospitalized firefighter - John Hansbauer, who sustained a head injury - had been listed in fair condition at Fort Hamilton. But he has been transferred to University Hospital for further evaluation, fire officials said. Doctors "just want to make sure he (Hansbauer) is neurologically functioning properly and they have a lot better equipment and physician center there at University. So we just want to make sure everything is OK," said Marielou Vierling, director of development and public relations for Fort Hamilton. The other two firefighters who were rescued were Dan Baumann and Dan Bagley. The accident happened about 4 p.m. while about 12 to 14 members of the HFD's River Rescue Team were conducting their annual recertification training just below the Low Level Dam, Hamilton Fire Chief Joe Schutte Tuesday. Schutte said one of the boats started to drift toward "the boil," turbulent water near the dam. During rescue efforts, two of the boats overturned and the four firefighters fell into the river. Three of the firefighters were pulled from the water within a minute while Gabbard, who has been a firefighter for about four years, was in the water for20 to 30 minutes, Schutte said Tuesday. Schutte said about four fire crews and a life squad were involved in the training, which involves performing different routines to recertify. "Generally, they'll start in the morning and do a few hours, break for lunch, and come back in the afternoon," he said Wednesday. Shortly after the accident, about three Hamilton fire trucks, an ambulance, several police cars and other fire officials were still at the scene. Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2190 or dewilson@coxohio.co |
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| Report Status: | Reported |