ROCKPORT — First responders moved quickly late Tuesday afternoon to save a man from self-injury, and in the process a Rockport police officer was hurt in a fall from a tree.

The incident began when Rockport Police Officer Celjeta Bixhaku responded to a call concerning a welfare check about a distressed male. She located him in a stand of trees behind the former Rockport Elementary School, where he had a rope and was a climbing a tree.

Knox County Communications Center, in Rockland, put a call out for assistance, and immediately Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley and other firefighters responded, including a ladder truck.

At the same time, Officer Antonio Del Vecchio, who was on his way to work, also heard the call and arrived at the scene to help, said Camden Sgt. Wes Butler.

Officer Del Vecchio climbed the tree to help the distressed male, in an attempt to talk with him.

But the branch he had stepped out onto snapped and he fell more than 15 feet to the ground.

A North East Mobile Health ambulance crew tended to Officer Del Vecchio while Chief Peasley climbed the ladder and assisted the man down to the ground. The man was transported by Officer Bixhaku to Pen Bay Medical Center for evaluation.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657