Photo by Robert Newkirk.

CAPE MAY – About 9 a.m. Tue., Feb. 14, a worker with Dal Construction, rehabilitating a pier at the U.S. Coast Guard base here, fell about 4 feet while climbing a safety ladder attached to a pier and landed on a wooden, floating platform.

“He was knock unconscious for approximately three to five minutes,” said Chief Warrant Officer Donnie Brzuska. “Personnel from the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous saw the incident and assessed the situation and contacted the Coast Guard Fire Department who was on scene in less than 1 minute.”

The accident victim was identified as Richard Kortonick, 54, of North Wildwood,

Cutter personnel also contacted Cape May Fire Department, Coast Guard police and Health Services Work-Life Detachment (HSWLD). Fire engines responded from Cape May and the Coast Guard, he said.
Brzuska said ambulances responded from Cape May Fire Department and HSWLD.

“Medical personnel on the scene determined that he possibly suffered serious head trauma and recommended a Life Flight,” he said. “We prepped our helicopter pad here at Training Center Cape May for a Life Flight and the patient was transferred to AtlanticCare Life Flight helicopter at 9:30 a.m. and was off deck and en route to Atlantic City Medical Center at 9:48.”

He said the Coast Guard’s agreement with the Cape May Fire Department ensured a quick response time for an ambulance that could transport the individual from the pier to the helicopter.

Brzuska called the operation a “good team effort.”