Rescuers saved a trapped construction worker by pulling him out of a water-filled trench near Tampa on July 24, Pasco County Fire Rescue has reported.
The man was up to his chin in water, which was rising. Firefighters first stopped the flow of water from a nearby drainage ditch by shoveling sand to form a makeshift dam on the scene in Wesley Chapel, about 25 miles northeast of Tampa.
The man was conscious and alert as he was pulled from the hole, and he was taken to a local hospital via helicopter.
The rescue took about 2.5 hours. Crews arrived from Pasco County Special Operations and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. The rescuers used giant vacuum hoses as well as shovels to remove sand and water from the hole.
“Firefighters shored the side of the trench to prevent further collapse, and a track hoe that was near the trench was secured preventing it from falling into the trench,” Pasco County Fire Rescue reported.
Firefighters shored the side of the trench to prevent further collapse, and a track hoe that was near the trench was secured preventing it from falling into the trench.
The conscious and alert patient was transported by medical helicopter to a local area hospital for further evaluation, fire officials said.
(Video from Pascoe Fire Rescue)