A Public Services Department employee avoided injury Thursday when the riding lawn mower he was operating slid into the Presumpscot River.

Public Services Department Deputy Director John Emerson said crews were mowing the grass at Riverbank Park Thursday afternoon. Public Services Department worker Dan McMahan was operating a riding mower near the embankment by the river when the mower’s rear wheels unexpectedly started to slide. The mower ended up sliding backward down the bank and went into the river, rolling over on top of McMahan in the process, said Emerson.

McMahan, who has been with the department for about five months, quickly freed himself from underneath the mower and got out of the water, but not before he swallowed a good amount of water in the effort, said Emerson.

Emerson said McMahan was fortunate he acted so quickly to get out of the water. “We’re very lucky,” he said. “He could have easily drowned.”

While McMahan was not seriously injured, emergency personnel examined him at the site and then transported him to Maine Medical Center as a precautionary measure where he was treated and released. Emerson said he spoke to McMahan before he was taken to the park and said he seemed shaken up over the incident but alright.

Emerson said no one from the Public Works Department in the park saw McMahan go into the river. “It was just one of those quirky things,” he said.

After taking care of McMahan, crews quickly moved to rescue the mower from the waters of the Presumpscot. Emerson said crews used a chain to haul the mower out of the river, and except for some minor damage, the mower was in good shape. There was also no sign that any gas or oil from the mower had leaked into the river, Emerson said.