Construction worker breaks leg in three-story fall from hotel

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 10, 2001

CLEARWATER -- A construction worker survived a three-story fall from a hotel Friday morning. Brian Mitchell, 18, of St. Petersburg was working at the construction site at 3070 Gulf to Bay Blvd., when he fell about 7:30 a.m., said Wayne Shelor, spokesman for the Clearwater Police Department.

Shelor said Mitchell fell about 27 feet. He suffered a broken leg, but was conscious when rescuers arrived to help him, said Charlie Flowers, assistant chief with the Clearwater Fire Department. Mitchell was flown by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was listed in fair condition Friday evening, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Shelor said people sometimes survive long falls, though other times can die after simply tripping. "It all depends on how you land and how elastic you are," Shelor said. Shelor said police are not investigating the fall.

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