Photo courtesy Jay Cline
PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles Fire Department was dispatched this morning around 9:00 to a report of a person stuck inside of the water tower at the old Rayonier mill site.

Crews found that a man in his 30s had fallen about 30 feet into the water tower, floating in the water and holding onto a rail. The man told them he was not able to touch the bottom. He told them he had been in the water for at least an hour, and medics say he was exhibiting signs of hypothermia.

Port Angeles Fire Department requested assistance from Clallam 3 Fire/Rescue, who responded with their Technical Rescue Team.

The man was successfully extricated from the water tower, and transported to Olympic Medical Center, where he was listed in stable but critical condition.

Investigators said in a news release it was unclear how the incident took place and that it is still under investigation.