Fisherman's Head Impaled By 6-Foot Hook
POSTED: 10:28 p.m. EDT September 6, 2003
BOSTON -- A 25-year-old fisherman is recovering Saturday after a 6-foot hook became lodged in his head in Boston Harbor.
"We had a 25-year-old fisherman onboard a fishing vessel that apparently had a mishap with a hook that impaled his head," Boston Emergency Medical Services Lt. Chris Stratton said.
After Boston police received word of the accident, a boat with EMS workers onboard raced to meet the lobster boat. Crews found Joe Laller with a 6-foot hook used to pull in lobster buoys stuck in his head.
"We were able to have paramedics onboard that were able to assist him. We asked if he needed any medications to help stop the pain, and we brought him in to shore," said EMS worker Megan Tuthill.
"We enlisted the support of the fire department to cut off the hook so it was manageable enough to transport him to the hospital," Stratton said.
After the hook was cut from the pole, the EMS team carefully carried Laller to a waiting ambulance.
EMS workers considered the lobsterman very lucky.
"Very stable, conscious and speaking with our crewmen and, under the circumstances, quite lucky," Stratton said.
The lobsterman has been treated and released from Boston Medical Center. There was no word on how the accident occurred.
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