Canadian worker survives fall off Ambassador Bridge, international crossing between Detroit and Windsor

The Ambassador Bridge spans the river between Detroit and Windsor, Ont. Photo: Google Streetview

A worker has survived after falling 150 feet (45.7 metres) into the Detroit River. The man, identified as Spencer Baker, plunged off the Ambassador Bridge — the international crossing that connects Detroit and Windsor, Ont.

Baker was a contractor working for AC Metal, based in Oldcastle, Ont., just outside of Windsor. But because the fall happened on the U.S. side of the bridge, authorities in Michigan will have jurisdiction over the investigation, according to a report from CBC News.

“The force of the impact had ripped most of his clothes off of him,” Sam Buchanan, captain of the J.W. Westcott, told Fox 2 Detroit. “His work boots were still on him and his pants were around his ankles and he had his T-shirt on.”

Buchanan said the man was ferried to shore where Detroit paramedics took over.

“We were relieved that he could talk to us, but he was pretty out of it,” Buchanan said. “He kept asking us what happened to him and we told him that he fell off the bridge.”

Detroit Fire Chief James Harris said people who were fishing saw the man in the water and alerted the J.W. Westcott.

“He’s very fortunate,” Harris said.

Baker was treated in a Detroit hospital and released Thursday morning.

With files from the Associated Press