Portsmouth Police stumbled onto a near-tragedy before dawn after a caller reported a man lying near the road at Gallia Street and Webster Avenue around 4 a.m. What they found was a reminder that winter weather doesn’t care how tough you think you are.
Officers located the man, who explained that he’d been drinking earlier in the night and got into an argument with his ride. Instead of sticking around, he told them to drop him off “right here” so he could walk the rest of the way.
Instead, he lay down in a hill-side ditch six hours earlier—and never got back up.
By the time police arrived, the temperature hovered around 30 degrees. The man told officers he could no longer feel his legs from the knees down and was unable to stand. While he was alert and sober by that point, officers immediately recognized the signs of possible hypothermia.
EMS rushed to the scene and transported him to SOMC for treatment.
🥶 This Could Have Turned Deadly — Fast
Hypothermia doesn’t require a blizzard—it just requires being cold, still, and stuck. At 30 degrees, the body can begin cooling dangerously in less than an hour, especially if lying on cold ground.
This man survived thanks to:
- A neighbor who called it in
- Officers checking his condition
- EMS responding quickly
Without that? This could easily have been a fatality.
❄️ Cold Weather Safety Tips That Could Save a Life
✔ Don’t walk home while drunk in freezing temperatures.
Impaired judgment and cold don’t mix.
✔ Never lie down outdoors in winter.
People fall asleep and never wake up.
✔ If you see someone lying outside, call 911 immediately.
You may be the only reason they survive.
✔ Dress in layers and avoid bare skin exposure.
✔ Don’t hesitate to accept help or a safe ride.
Pride isn’t worth frostbite—or death.
🚑 Stay Safe, Portsmouth—Cold Is No Joke
Thanks to a quick-thinking caller and fast response from officers and EMS, this incident ended with medical care instead of a tragedy. As the weather gets colder, police urge residents to check on friends, family, neighbors, and anyone you see who might be at risk.
A warm bed beats a frozen ditch—every single time.