Bethel Park plumbers rescue resident from Piney Fork Creek

A group of Bethel Park plumbers started their workday on April 29 by rescuing a resident who fell into Piney Fork Creek.

“I was reading blueprints for a job we were going on,” said John Oakes, owner of All Pro Plumbing. “Everyone meets in the shop in the morning around 8:30 a.m. I just happened to look out the window and I saw a guy’s head right above the concrete bridge that goes underneath the culvert, that goes underneath the creek.”

Oakes said the creek was high at the time due to a lot of rain.

The area where the man was spotted was less than 100 yards from the business along Library Road.

Oakes said the man later told them he had suffered a diabetic issue after getting off a bus and had fallen in the creek after becoming disoriented.

“The guy was passed out,” Oakes said. “(We) grabbed him and held him to the side of the creek so he wouldn’t get washed down. I ran and got a ladder from our shop and threw it down the creek. They finally got the guy awake. (Our workers) grabbed his shoulders, drug him up the ladder and put him on the pavement.”

EMS came and took the man to a hospital for evaluation and he was later released.

“We’re glad he’s doing OK,” Oakes said. “Anybody would have done it and looked out for a neighbor.”

Plumbers Jon Stapas and Clint Borgen assisted.

“I don’t feel like a hero,” he said. “People like to throw that out there. I just helped somebody.”

The plumbers received a thank you card and a Subway gift card from the family.

Oakes said he has been in Bethel Park for about two years and has never seen anyone stuck in the creek.