Before a total of 50 firefighters and medics arrived on the scene, paramedic Ed Aldaco was one of the first to make contact with a man entangled in a mulch-dying machine.
Aldaco, 45, has worked as a Prince George’s County paramedic for 13 years and arrived at the mulch plant at 11 a.m. on April 17. The man was so entangled, Aldaco and others requested more assistance.
The response team comprised of paramedics, firefighters, police officers and hospital staff found 60-year-old Larry Porter trapped in a large machine used to inject dye into mulch. Both of Porter’s legs were imbedded in the machinery to the extent that a GO TEAM, medical professionals who usually work in hospital conditions, was called to assist in extracting Porter. In a statement given the day of the incident, the fire department said it feared amputation would be necessary to free Porter from the machinery.
With its opening at the top of the large machine, Porter could only be reached with the assistance of ground ladders. Parts of the machine were carefully removed. When Porter remained trapped and in pain, anesthetics were used to sedate him. Ninety minutes later and with many parts of the machine removed, Porter was finally freed from his mechanical prison without any need for surgery, but having suffered critical injuries to both his legs.
Aldaco and many others who helped rescue Porter that day were recently reunited. Porter and his family came to the Laurel Fire/EMS Station on Monday to thank his rescuers and talk about his injuries. Porter is continuing treatment for his legs in Baltimore.
