HALIFAX — A man is lucky to be alive after his plane crashed in the water behind Lake Street in Halifax Saturday afternoon around noon.

A portion of the Piper Archer 28-181, single propeller could be seen partially submerged near 78 Lake St., Halifax where first responders spent hours securing the oil spill from the plane with containment booms and awaited removal of the craft.

John Keegan of Hanson was helping his brother- in- law Aaron Sellers with a repair on the roof of his home when he saw the small plane skim the roof of the neighbors’ roof next door.

“His wings hit the ice then he popped back up and then crashed over there,” said Keegan pointing to the icy water.

Keegan, along with another man who heard the call from nearby  Cranland Airport in Hanson, were able to flip a canoe over that was at the bottom of the Sellers’ property, paddled through the ice to reach the pilot, and helped him to shore. The man was reportedly soaked but talking and said he was not hurt according to Keegan.  He was standing on the plane’s roof when the pair reached him.

In a press release Halifax firefighters reported they began the process of launching their marine craft in an attempt to reach the plane and encountered thin layers of ice and cold weather which prohibited the rescue boat from initially reaching the airplane.  A mutual aid airboat from Middleborough was called to assist in reaching the aircraft.  Companies then began the process of securing the surroundings with inflatable booms to stop any fuel leaks.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Environmental Protection, National Transportation Safety Board, Sheriff’s department, and State police were called to assist in the aircraft recovery, according to the press release.

The pilot later returned to the scene.  He was seen walking with a police officer in dry clothing and shook hands with Sellers as he passed by his home where Keegan had assisted him earlier. The man declined to comment to this reporter.

Other hazardous materials units were called in from Kingston and Duxbury.  Andy’s Towing and other tow companies were called to standby the incident.  The Plymouth County Dive Team was also activated with members from Hanover, Hingham, Abington, and Plympton.  Hanson Fire provided coverage at Halifax fire station

The name of the pilot has not been released by authorities and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation, according to the Halifax Fire Dept.

Halifax police are investigating the unattended death of an 83 year-old man on Tuesday.

The victim has been identified as Henry Stukuls of Atkinson, New Hampshire.

State police detectives and Halifax police are jointly investigating the incident, according to reports from Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and Halifax Police Chief Joao Chaves.

At approximately 10 a.m. Tuesday, State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office were advised by Halifax Police of an unattended death, which occurred at 287 Holmes Street in Halifax.

The victim was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth where he was pronounced dead.

The state office of the Chief Medical Examiner took jurisdiction and will determine the cause of death, according to the press release.

Wednesday, when this reporter sought comment, there was no activity at the building, and the front doors were locked. There appeared to be video cameras on the outsides of the building, which is located across from the entrance to the Halifax commuter rail station. The business is reportedly a woodworking company that makes custom wine racks. There was an overhead sign that read Maverick Furniture but appeared to be painted over on the front of the building.

A car with New Hampshire plates remained in the parking lot Wednesday morning and appeared to have been there overnight with frosted windows.

The dispatched 911 call over the public scanner Tuesday morning around 8: 30 a.m. was reported as a possible industrial accident involving a fork lift. Stukuls was reportedly found outside the building.

Police would not confirm any other details of the incident citing the ongoing investigation.

Police did say that there is no apparent danger to the public at large.

HALIFAX – Heavy smoke could be seen from across the street as witnesses said they made 911 calls from the Dunkin Donuts drive thru on Plymouth Street Friday, Aug. 23, around 3 p.m.

A house fire at 346 Plymouth St. appeared to have been caused by a faulty electrical outlet and was deemed accidental in nature, Fire Chief Jason Viveiros told the press.

One personnel member responded with a fire engine because the Halifax ambulance was committed on a prior call.

In early images from bystanders, flames could be seen pouring out of the side of the two-family home. Witnesses said they ran to bang on the doors when they saw black smoke quickly turn to flames.

Tayla Jarris of Pembroke said there were more than a few people with cell phones calling the fire in as she and Stephen Bentley of Plympton went to the home to listen for sounds of people or animals.

Another man who did not wish to comment had also reportedly run to the back of the home to check if help was needed there, Jarris said.

Halifax Fire requested mutual aid and a second alarm was called to bring more manpower to the fire scene.

Jeanmarie Venti, the tenant of the home, had just returned to work from her lunch break when she received a call that her house was on fire.  The property is owned by Tina and Bill Alger, also of Halifax.

Marie Sanford, Venti’s daughter who was at the fire scene, told the Express that her mother was shaken up and did not want to speak to the press at that time.  She said that her mother was not home at the time of the fire, but incidentally had returned from a quick lunch just about an hour before the fire.

Sanford added that she was thankful that her mom was not hurt.

An early estimate put damages around $300,000, according to Chief Viveiros.

The fire was brought under control just before 4 p.m.

One firefighter was taken to Brockton Hospital for medical treatment.

Departments who responded to the scene along with a Kingston engine that covered the Halifax fire station were: Hanson, East Bridgewater, Pembroke, and Plympton fire departments.

During the fire incident both the Kingston engine and Pembroke ambulance responded for a medical emergency call.

All units were cleared and in service at 5 p.m. according to Viveiros.