Story by MIKE PEERY
Photos by ROB SORENSEN
Jacksonville Fire & Rescue

Three utility workers are fighting for their lives tonight after a confined space accident in the San Marco area of Jacksonville, Florida. At 10:23 this morning, units with the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Dept were dispatched to the 1000 block of Arbor Lane.

The men were working on some underground utilities with one worker inside the hole using a laser type device to check the progress of their work. His co-worker observed the man inside the hole collapse. At that time, that worker then entered the manhole to attempt rescue of the first worker. He too collapsed inside the hole. The third man, a foreman, then entered the hole to attempt rescue of his co-workers.

All three men were still inside the manhole when firefighters arrived. Among the response units to arrive on scene was Engine 13, a team specialty trained in confined space rescue, who was only 4 blocks away from the accident site when dispatched.

Firefighters quickly assessed the atmosphere inside the four foot diameter manhole, set up positive pressure ventilation and an extraction tripod over the entrance to the hole .The three victims were located at the bottom of the pipe approximately 13 feet down.

A total of three firefighters were sent into the hole to place harnesses on the victims and remove them from the hole. Firefighters worked quickly and removed all three victims in about 30 minutes.

Following the removal of the victims, rescue units then transported them to Baptist hospital where they currently remain in critical condition. The accident is currently under investigation by local law enforcement and federal OSHA officials.

The fact that specialty trained firefighters were so close to the accident when they were dispatched surely gave the victims their best chance for survival.

This is an amazing rescue preformed by Jacksonville Fire & Rescue, and was performed in a text book manor.

Update: As of Wednesday Sept. 4, 2002, two victims were released from the hospital and the other one is in good condition, expected to be released soon. Doctors credited the quick rescue efforts of the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Dept and their own efforts to diagnosis their condition quickly and place the 3 men in the hyperbaric chamber,all aided in their recovery.