A Utah worker had a narrow escape after being buried up to his chin in a trench collapse while working in a backyard in Cedar Hills. The incident occurred on Tuesday while the worker, along with two others, was conducting sewer work for a homeowner. Firefighters were called to the scene around 1:10 p.m. to assist in the rescue operation.
Upon arrival, emergency responders found the victim trapped under dirt and debris, with only his head visible. The rescue team quickly set up trench shoring to secure the area and utilized a vacuum truck to carefully remove the soil surrounding the worker. The process was described as time-consuming but ultimately successful.
The battalion chief commended the swift actions of the rescue crews, stating that the victim was fortunate to have remained conscious throughout the ordeal. Following the extraction, the injured worker was airlifted to a nearby hospital in serious condition. No further updates on his status were provided at the time.
The cause of the trench collapse remains unknown, prompting an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) teams. This incident comes on the heels of a recent rescue in Tennessee where a backhoe operator was trapped for 12 hours in a similar mishap.
Tragically, incidents involving collapses are not uncommon, as evidenced by a recent fatality in Florida where a young girl lost her life after a sand hole she was playing in collapsed on her. These incidents serve as stark reminders of the dangers associated with excavation work and the importance of adhering to safety protocols.
