PORTSMOUTH — A 75-year-old Portsmouth man who on June 17 fell through a floor of a home under construction on Rebel’s Way died Wednesday at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

The man was identified as Williams Kirkpatrick of Portsmouth.

In a statement released Monday afternoon by Deputy Fire Chief Michael O’Brien, the Portsmouth Fire Department received a 911 call at 5 p.m. on June 17 reporting a “fall accident” in the area of 140 Rebel’s Way.

“Crews from Rescue 3 and Engine 1 arrived to find a 75-year-old Portsmouth man critically injured,” Deputy O’Brien stated. “The man had ventured into a house that was under construction on Rebel’s Way when he fell through the floor into the basement. EMTs began treatment in the basement and then were able to extricate the patient from the basement.”

Due to the serious nature of the injuries and the patient’s unstable condition, EMTs transported the patient to nearest hospital, rather than a trauma center. They arrived at Newport Hospital’s Emergency Department 30 minutes after the initial 911 call.  The ambulance crew stood by at the emergency department in anticipation that the patient would need emergency transport to Rhode Island Hospital, the deputy chief said.

“Newport Hospital worked to stabilize the injured man for transport to Providence,” Deputy O’Brien said. “Portsmouth Rescue 3 departed for Rhode Island Hospital from Newport Hospital after standing by for 20 minutes. A nurse from the emergency department joined Portsmouth EMTs with providing care for the patient during the transfer.”

The man’s current condition is not known, he said.

Opiate overdose

In other news, on Sunday at 6:47 p.m., firefighters were summoned by police to the Cumberland Farms at 3166 East Main Road to help a 33-year-old male found unresponsive in the public bathroom. 

Portsmouth Police, suspecting an opiate overdose, administered naloxone nasally prior to firefighters’  arrival. When EMTs arrived, the patient was still unresponsive and they administered a second dose of naloxone by injection. The patient regained consciousness at that time.

The patient was offered and accepted a recovery coach, as part of Gov. Gina Raimondo’s Overdose Task Force program initiative. Portsmouth EMTs made phone calls to facilitate recovery treatment for the patient during transport.