The collapse rescue team for the Indianapolis Fire Department worked for more than 10 hours to free and recover a 56-year-old man who became trapped in a 15-foot-deep trench when the ground gave way while digging a well in Johnson County on Monday.
The team was called in by the Bargersville Fire Department at about 12:10 p.m., the Indianapolis department stated in an online post. Once at the site, crews needed to wait several hours for heavy machinery to create a more stable work platform for firefighters by moving dirt and leveling out the trench's remaining surface and sloping area.
Firefighters were able to enter the trench just after 4:30 p.m., eventually locating the man a little less than an hour later. During this time, Hancock County's collapse rescue team also was called in because of firefighter fatigue and safety concerns.
At about 10:45 p.m., the team was able to recover the body of the victim, identified by WRTV-TV as Douglas Scott Abney.
"The man … was a beloved member of the Bargersville community and his loss will be felt greatly," the Indianapolis Fire Department stated.
