Crane sinks upside down in lake, trapping operator inside. A good Samaritan found him

A good Samaritan is credited with saving a man pinned upside down underwater when a crane flipped over and sank into West Tennessee’s murky McKellar Lake.

It happened around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, just south of Memphis, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“A crane at the Wepfer Marine Drydock reportedly fell into the water with one crane operator inside,” officials said in a news release.

“A good Samaritan on a nearby towing vessel entered the water and was able to locate the unresponsive crane operator.”

Crews from two Coast Guard cutters were in the area when the crane collapsed and “used a nearby fire hose as a lifeline to pull the two people to shore,” officials said.

“Once safely on the pier, the crew checked vitals of the crane operator and started to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” officials said. “The crew was able to verify a pulse and signs of life.”

The crane operator was taken to a hospital. His condition and identity have not been released. The identity of the good Samaritan was also not revealed.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

McKellar Lake is 1,458-acre oxbow lake created when the Mississippi River changed its course to the west.

This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 7:23 AM with the headline "Crane sinks upside down in lake, trapping operator inside. A good Samaritan found him."