UPDATED: Man Seriously Injured In Fall From Scaffolding

A 46-year-old man was seriously injured this afternoon after falling an estimated 45 feet to the ground.

Sgt. L.J. Keating of the New London Police Department said the man was conscious and alert when emergency responders arrived at the scene. Keating said it appeared that the man was doing work on the roof of the building, a four-story triplex at 36 Hempstead Street.

The incident occurred at about 2:40 p.m. The New London Fire Department initially tried to have Life Star fly the man to Yale-New Haven hospital, but due to the estimated 30 minutes needed for the helicopter to arrive he was first taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital to be stabilized.

"It looked like he had some serious injuries," said Battalion Chief Tom Curcio. "We got him out of there pretty quick."

Curcio said the man was talking to first responders and told them he was 45 feet up when he fell and that he did not have any feeling below his waist. The scaffolding that he was working on was in pieces on the ground, and the building inspector and fire marshal were called in to assist with the police investigation.

"It looked like either the scaffolding gave way or he fell between the scaffolding and the house," said Curcio.

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