Ala. Crews Rescue Two Workers Trapped by Cave-in
Source Montgomery Advertiser, Ala.
April 25--HOPE HULL -- Rescuers have successfully pulled to safety two men trapped under dirt at a remote construction site.
The construction workers were airlifted from the scene in a field near Wadsen Road and Hargrove Lane in Hope Hull.
Their injuries are not life threatening, said Assistant Fire Chief Kelly Gordon.
The workers were inside 4-foot by 2-foot by 12-foot rebar cages. One had his feet submerged in two feet of dirt, while the second was initially submerged under four feet of dirt.
The call initially came in about 11:30 a.m., Gordon said. The second worker was pulled from the ground just before 4 p.m.
Rescuing the workers was a slow process, with rescuers digging them out and then cutting them out of the cages, Gordon said.
The two men were installing concrete footings at the site. Gordon said he did not know exactly how the men became trapped.
The first worker was pulled from the hole about 2 p.m. and promptly airlifted to a hospital. He could be seen waving his hand toward co-workers and rescuers.
Rescuers were able to create a ventilation hole for the second worker, who remained alert and was able to communicate with the rescuers.
Deputies and firefighters who were also on the scene broke into applause for the rescuers shortly after the second worker was airlifted.
Gordon also applauded the work of the rescuers, including Montgomery firefighters and Montgomery County sheriff's deputies.
"I'm more proud today than I have been for a long time," Gordon said.
Copyright 2013 - Montgomery Advertiser, Ala.
