Unity Township man rescued from creek in Latrobe

A Unity man was rescued from Loyalhanna Creek on Friday afternoon.

Unity fire departments as well as the Westmoreland County Swift Water Rescue team were dispatched shortly after 4 p.m. for a man floating in the creek, according to Unity Township Bureau of Fire officials.

Rescuers from the Lloydsville Fire Department were the first to respond within minutes followed by other teams.

Lloydsville Lt. Tyler Himler said working in conjunction with county dispatchers and the 911 caller, officials determined the best place for the rescue would be at Latrobe City Hall due to the water level and creek speed at the time. The building’s parking lot is near the creek.

“As we were getting ready, hooking up the boats, the dispatcher updated us that the caller was no longer able to see the gentlemen, and he was floating toward the City of Latrobe,” Himler said.

Latrobe police were notified as well as paramedics and EMTs from Mutual Aid EMS.

A swift water certified Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officer and member of Bradenville Fire Department in Derry Township was able to get to the floating man, who is believed to be in his 60s.

“Whenever he got in the water, he brought the gentlemen to shore and we assisted with getting him over the hill (and to medical personnel),” Himler said. The man was taken to Latrobe Hospital and resuscitated.

Himler said he was unsure what the man’s condition was late Friday.

It was also unclear where and how the man got into the creek.