by Brian Keaney

The Fire Department pulled a man out of Mother Brook this afternoon after the homemade boat he was fishing in went over the waterfall near Providence Highway.  He was taken with non-life threatening injuries to Norwood Hospital.

The victim had been fishing in a small boat with a trolling motor in the Charles River when he became stuck on the dam where the Charles River diverts to become Mother Brook.  The boat’s small motor was not enough to overcome the current and free itself.

Kevin Horan, a passing motorist, stopped to make sure the victim was OK.  After Horan threw the victim a line to try and pull the boat out of the current, the victim stood up in the boat to try and rock it free.  It was then, Horan said, that he lost his balance and fell over the waterfall backward.

The man, who was not wearing a life jacket, was able to grab on to a piece of orange foam floating in the Brook.  This helped him remain mostly above water, Horan said, though he was bobbing up and down below the water’s surface.

Horan then called 911 and Engine 2 and Ladder 1 from the Fire Department responded.  Lt. Ed Berry and Firefighter Mike Lessard both donned dry suits en route and entered the Brook to save the man.  A third firefighter was able to throw the victim a lifeline, and dragged him along the concrete wall next to the gatehouse to Berry and Lessard. 

Berry and Lessard then returned to the water to remove the boat and engine from the Brook.

“It wasn’t the most seaworthy vessel,” Lessard said.