Elderly Man Rescued After Slipping Into Delaware Creek

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) --  An elderly man is in stable condition after he was rescued from a creek this afternoon in Wilmington, Delaware.

New Castle County officials say paramedics were called to a home this afternoon about someone falling into a creek.

When they arrived at the scene, they discovered a 73-year-old man had landed in the Brandywine Creek after he slipped and fell down a ten-foot embankment.

Several rescue companies used ladders, ropes and a basket to pull the man out of the water, up the embankment and back to safety.

The man suffered an injured ankle and hypothermia and was taken to Christiana Hospital for treatment.

Authorities say it is easy to become hypothermic if you're not dressed appropriately for the weather, especially if something unexpected happens and you end up exposed to the elements for an extended period of time.

Police recommend that everyone carry a cell phone and say it's always a good idea to let someone know where you're going and when you should be arriving there.