Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton fire departments often get request for medical aid, but St. Clair Township had an unsual request for a lift assist.

Firefighters were called to the Southwestern Sales gravel dock between Sombra and Port Lambton. Chief Richard Boyes says a worker was injured. “The ship was extremely icy from trip down the lake, and I guess someplace in the ship the worker slipped and fell.”

The company doesn’t have a traditional dock at the gravel yard; ships unload using a conveyer system without workers ever touching dry ground. That made it difficult for the injured worker to get to treatment.

“It came in as a lift assist which turned out to be a little bit more,” the Chief tells The Independent. “They were 40 feet from shore. So it was the case that we called in Tower 22 and we could set up there and reach across and up and over the railings and cables and pick the worker up and bring them to shore.”

Boyes says the man was taken to hospital by Lambton paramedics.