CLAYPOOL – Tuesday night along CR 200W south of CR 600S, Claypool, a man climbed a cell phone tower in an apparent suicide attempt.
Lloyd J. Swick, 30, Warsaw, climbed the tower due to hardships going on in his life, said Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Captain Aaron Rovenstine.
Rovenstine additionally said that Swick suffers from diabetes, hypoglycemia and epilepsy. Swick was rescued by the Warsaw Fire Department Tactical Rescue Team and taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, then later taken to the Bowen Center for treatment.
WFD firefighter Aaron Bolinger said Swick climbed the tower, began suffering seizures and called for help at around 9 p.m. When the rescue team arrived, Swick was approximately 200 feet above ground. Earlier, Swick had climbed at least 25 feet higher.
Rescue team members climbed the tower to reach Swick and then used ropes and rescue gear to lower him safely to the ground. Bolinger said the team was put through tower rescue training last fall by the city of Warsaw.
Assisting in the rescue were members of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System from South Bend. MABAS is a network of rescue teams from northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
Also assisting at the scene were the Kosciusko Sheriff’s Department, Claypool police and Multi-Township EMS.
