A Connecticut man is likely breathing a sigh of relief thanks to a team of firefighters and other emergency personnel who rescued him after he became stuck inside a tube slide at a children\u2019s playground on a hot August day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rescuers found the 40-year-old man, who has not been publicly identified, \u201cwedged feet and head first down the slide\u201d while \u201cstuck in the middle portion\u201d when they responded to a call just after 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Northeast Elementary School playground in Vernon, Connecticut, according to a statement<\/a> from the Vernon Fire Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vernon Emergency Services personnel administered oxygen to the man, who was \u201cin extreme discomfort\u201d while inside the slide amid the day\u2019s \u201chot temperatures,\u201d the fire department said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firefighters created \u201cventilation\u201d to help \u201ccool the space\u201d where the man was stuck while they worked to free him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using extrication tools, firefighters removed a portion of the slide to reach the man, the statement said. They used ropes attached to one fire engine\u2019s aerial ladder as \u201ca high point to stabilize the section of slide\u201d that firefighters were removing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man was freed within 30 minutes and was evaluated by emergency personnel at the scene. He refused additional treatment and transport to a local emergency room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fire department did not respond to a request for additional information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Vernon Fire Department provided more than a dozen photos from its rescue effort. One image shows firefighters on the ground holding a portion of the tube slide that had been removed. Above them, another rescuer helps the man to climb out of the slide to safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile this is a unique call for service for the fire department, the professionalism shown on scene was exemplary,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n