Authorities say a man is in critical condition after falling into Fairfield's Pine Creek while working on a barge Saturday.

Witnesses say a tugboat captain, who was working alongside Paul Ryszm, of Norwalk, saw the barge foreman fall and immediately jumped into the seven-foot deep creek to rescue him. The captain says the crew was packing up materials after a day of work when Ryszm slipped and hit his neck.

Rescuers say Ryszm, the captain and another man were putting pilings on a bulkhead when the accident happened. They believe the men were not wearing lifejackets or harnesses. Witnesses say the captain pulled off a heroic rescue.