OMAHA, Neb. --
Omaha firefighters had to pull out special equipment to rescue a man who collapsed while working on the roof of his home Wednesday.
A priest at a nearby church said he noticed the man, who was on top of his two-and-a-half story house, collapsed and that he needed help.
The priest called 911 and crews began what's called a high-angle rope rescue at the house near 33rd and Frances streets.
"We had a 45 to 50-year-old male working on his roof. He suffered some sort of medical condition," said Capt. Jim Gentile.
They harnessed a main line and a back-up line for the rescuer and the man, and then tied them off on separate anchors, according to Capt. Brad Hildebrandt.
"So if one failed, it would be able to support rescuer and patient," he said.
The man was lowered to the ground in a specially-designed stretcher. He was then taken to a hospital in serious condition.
The rescue lasted 39 minutes, officials said. It was the second such rescue they performed this year, they said.
Copyright 2010 by KETV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
