Man who survived 43-metre fall from Ambassador Bridge is Canadian, works for Windsor-area company
The Ambassador Bridge is shown approximately four hours after a worker, a Canadian who works for a Windsor, Ont.-area company, fell from the crossing into the Detroit River. (Dale Molnar/CBC)The worker who fell from the Ambassador Bridge on Wednesday is Canadian and works for a Windsor, Ont.-area company, officials have confirmed. An official with Detroit Receiving Hospital said the man who fell from the bridge was Spencer Baker. He was treated and released Thursday morning. Windsor Harbour Master Peter Barry confirmed to CBC News the man is Canadian. Barry called it a "miracle" he survived. The man who fell from the Ambassador Bridge is tended to after being pulled from the Detroit River. (Terri George/Facebook)A Ministry of Labour spokesperson said the man works for AC Metal in Oldcastle. Because the incident occurred in the United States, the spokesperson told CBC News, U.S. authorities will have jurisdiction in the investigation. The company could not be immediately be reached for
The worker who fell from the Ambassador Bridge on Wednesday is Canadian and works for a Windsor, Ont.-area company, officials have confirmed.
An official with Detroit Receiving Hospital said the man who fell from the bridge was Spencer Baker. He was treated and released Thursday morning.
Windsor Harbour Master Peter Barry confirmed to CBC News the man is Canadian. Barry called it a "miracle" he survived.
A Ministry of Labour spokesperson said the man works for AC Metal in Oldcastle. Because the incident occurred in the United States, the spokesperson told CBC News, U.S. authorities will have jurisdiction in the investigation.
The company could not be immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
The Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration said it is investigating and cannot provide comment on open investigations, though a spokesperson said these types of investigations can take months to complete.
Onlookers shocked to see man fall
Onlookers were shocked after the man fell about 43 metres into the Detroit River from the bridge on Wednesday afternoon.
Videos on social media showed the crew of the boat, the J.W. Westcott, immediately jumping into action to locate and pull the man from the water.
WATCH | Onlooker captures moments of man on boat after fall from bridge and getting pulled from water
Sam Buchanan captains the J.W. Westcott and was aboard the ship Wednesday night.
"He was still conscious and talking, so that was good … he kept asking us what happened to him," Buchanan said to CBC News about the man who fell.
Buchanan said the man's eyes looked dilated and he was dazed and confused. Pieces of his clothing had been pulled off by the impact, he added.
"I'm amazed that he survived that fall. But he was young and looked quite strong to me. The thing that makes me happy is that he's alive and his family is not going to get some bad news [Wednesday night]."
In January 2012, a worker died after falling from the Ambassador Bridge the Detroit River. He was relocating scaffolding located under the span of the bridge. U.S. companies were fined about $108,000 by Michigan safety officials relating to the incident.
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