Wednesday, April 9, 2003
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Wednesday, April 9, 2003 |
Worker rescued from trenchBy JOHN
MUNFORD
A man who was accidentally buried in a trench April 1 while working on a water line project was rescued by firefighters. According to officials, the victim, a Hispanic male, was in a 12-foot deep trench and was buried up to his chest at a location on New Hope Road, said Chief Allen McCullough of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Because the trench wasn't shored up, only one firefighter went down to check the man's vital signs, McCullough noted. He was alert and conscious and could speak and breathe, the chief added. If the victim's condition deteriorated, officials planned to remove the victim quickly, but since he was stable they decided to call Clayton County's specialized trench rescue team for assistance, McCullough said. "We wanted to play it safe," McCullough said, explaining that the county historically hasn't had survivors from such accidents. "Our goal was for us to put a ladder in and have the victim walk out," McCullough said. But through an interpreter, the victim said he felt too weak and short of breath to climb the ladder, McCullough added. Clayton County's team used special equipment to lift the victim out of the trench. The victim was then taken to Southern Regional Medical Center, where he was held for observation and later released. Although it took a lot of manpower to work the rescue, McCullough said it was justified because of the safety precautions that were necessary. When Clayton County responded with assistance, it sent several apparatus to the scene, he added. "There may have been 40 people there," McCullough said. "But it took those 40 people to do it right."
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