An Oak Bluffs volunteer firefighter is in a Boston hospital recovering from serious injuries after he fell from the town ladder truck in a freak accident during preparations for a funeral Saturday.
Oak Bluffs public safety director Erik Blake confirmed Monday that the firefighter is Kevin Brennan, an Oak Bluffs resident who is assigned to the ladder truck. He said the accident occurred around noon Saturday as the Oak Bluffs and Edgartown ladder trucks were preparing to hang a flag at the entrance to the Sacred Heart Cemetery off Vineyard avenue for the funeral of a former longtime Oak Bluffs firefighter.
According to Chief Blake, Mr. Brennan was at the base of the ladder on the truck where the controls are located when he lost his footing and fell, hitting one of the truck’s metal stanchions.
With EMS already on scene for the funeral, the response was immediate, Chief Blake said.
“He was immediately taken to the hospital and within a half hour or so he was flown [by medflight] . . . to Boston,” Chief Blake said.
Chief Blake said Mr. Brennan is recovering although his injuries are serious.
“The news that he’s doing much better is a relief,” Chief Blake said.
— Aaron Wilson
