Man rescued from Saugus River

SAUGUS – An off-duty fireman helped rescue a man who fell into the Saugus River Friday night, according to police.Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard said Fire Capt. Thomas Nolan and Police officer John Naglieri rescued a man who fell into the river at Vitale Landing off of Ballard Street around 6:30 p.m. Friday.Blanchard said Nolan, who lives nearby, was off duty and driving past the area when he heard the call for aide broadcast on his work radio.Blanchard said Nolan saw the man’s dog standing on the dock and when Nolan looked into the water, he could see two feet sticking up that were caught on the line.”He was upside down underwater,” Blanchard said.Blanchard said Nolan immediately jumped in the water and pulled the man’s head out as the man started gurgling up water. The man’s face was bloodied, said Blanchard.Blanchard said the man was breathing but had head and facial injuries and was transported to the hospital. Blanchard said he didn’t know the man’s identity or which hospital he was taken to.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @matttempesta.