Update: Police ID Man Found On Bank of Black RiverWatertown police have identified a man rescued from an embankment as Charles Tousant, 65, of 30050 Middle Road. Tousant (who had earlier been identified incorrectly as 'Johnson') was found at the bottom of an embankment of the Black River, behind Huntington Street, Friday morning. He may have been on the embankment overnight. It's not clear exactly how Tousant ended up where he did, said Watertown police Detective Sergeant Joe Donoghue, but he has in the past parked on Huntington Street. In this case, he's believed to have parked his vehicle on Huntington Street Thursday night. He was discovered by an employee of Miller's Garage, after the employee recognized Tousant's vehicle. Officials say they presume Tousant fell between 20 and 30 feet. Tousant was unconscious when he was discovered. Watertown fire chief Dale Hermon said Tousant was conscious enough at one point to tell rescuers he thought he'd been there for six to eight hours. Fire officials say it was a potentially dangerous rescue because responders had to be lowered by ropes to retrieve the man, creating a risk that they themselves could fall into the river. A second crew was positioned downstream in case they did. "We had a company that was what we refer to as downstream, prepared in case one of our people ended up in the river," Herman said. "They could provide a safety mechanism for those rescuers that might be in danger," he said. Tousant was airlifted by helicopter to a Syracuse hospital for treatment. He was in fair condition Friday afternoon at Upstate University Hospital. |
Monday, May 20, 2013
, Watertown, NY
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