Man Rescued From Top Of Sailboat In Atlantic Highlands

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — A man had to be rescued after he became trapped 39 feet high on top of a sailing mast Sunday night at the Atlantic Highlands marina.

The man, who is an experienced sailor, became stuck while the catamaran was still out in the water at its mooring, according to Atlantic Highlands Fire Chief Brian Sheehan. He and others were trying to lower the mast to bring the boat in for the night when it became stuck. The man climbed to the top of the mast and became stuck himself.

The men brought the boat to shore and firefighters, using a ladder, were able to safely bring him down. In total, the man was stuck up there for 90 minutes, Chief Sheehan said, from about 7 p.m. to 8:30 Sunday night.

"There were about 65 people on shore watching the whole thing," he said. "These guys knew what they were doing; it was just an equipment failure. He refused medical attention once we brought him down. He was just more embarrassed than anything."

All photos were take by Richard Huff with the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad, which also responded to the scene.