On October 29, 2004, a 35-year-old male construction worker became trapped at approximately 1 PM on a housing unit building site in Mercer Street, Castle Hill, in Sydney, Australia's North West.
He became trapped in a 4m trench when earth and a brick wall collapsed on him, trapping him from the waist down.
New South Wales Fire Brigades (NSWFB) rescue appliances from Castle Hill and Eastwood attended with pumpers from Kellyville and Silverwater providing extra manpower. The Ambulance Service of New South Wales (ASNSW) provided a general duties ambulance, paramedic ambulance, rapid response paramedic and paramedic commander. Scene security was provided by New South Wales Police from the Castle Hill station. The NRMA CareFlight helicopter was called and landed in a nearby sporting field. CareFlight Doctor and Paramedic attended the scene.
After the extent to which the man was trapped was determined, the NSWFB Major Structural Collapse Urban Search And Rescue Unit was requested to attend with specialist equipment and USAR trained firefighters.
It took hours to release the man who was transported to hospital with multiple fractures.
