Indy Crews Work Over 10 Hours on Well Collapse
Source Firehouse.com News
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.