Fort Worth Firefighters Rescue Crane Operator in Two-Hour Nighttime Operation

FORT WORTH, Texas – Firefighters spent more than two hours Wednesday night rescuing a crane operator stranded high above the ground just south of downtown, in a dramatic operation captured on camera across from JPS Hospital.

Crews reached the man at the top of the crane and began the process of getting him down safely. A rescuer lowered alongside the operator, with the descent taking approximately ten minutes. The rescue was nearing completion around 9:15 p.m., when cameras recorded the two rescue teams working together to get the man off the arm of the crane.

Both were slowly lowered to the top of a parking garage. A drone provided an additional perspective from high above Fort Worth, almost eye level with the operation, and another view looking down showed how high the crane operator had been stranded.

According to officials, no one was hurt in the incident. The reason the operator had an “episode” at the top of the crane remains under investigation.

As of late Wednesday night, rescue crews were wrapping up on the crane, stowing their gear, and ensuring everyone was safely off the structure.