PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — First responders rescued a construction worker who was trapped 20 to 30 feet below ground after a trench collapsed Friday, according to Paulding County fire officials.
Authorities say the man was able to be rescued from the trench and has been transported to Grady.
The trench collapsed at a home's construction site at the 300 block of Persian Ivy Way in Dallas, Georgia, about 40 miles west of Atlanta. The location is not far from WC Abney Elementary School and the Seven Hills subdivision.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 11:30 a.m.
The man was initially completely covered underground before a co-worker helped uncover him to his neck, allowing him to breathe a little, according to Paulding County Fire officials.
Fire crews said he was surrounded by about 150 pounds per cubic foot of thick soil, which made it harder for the man to breathe.
Cobb County Fire officials joined the rescue efforts and brought a special rescue truck. The City of Dallas also provided its own special truck that could suction dirt from around the trapped man.
11Alive obtained photos from the scene, which show first responders as they worked and repelled down to rescue to man:
Photos | Trench collapse, rescue in Paulding County
You can also check out aerials from 11Alive SkyTracker as crews worked:
After several hours, 11Alive crews captured the moment the man was rescued. You can see first responders carrying him to safety:
It's unclear at this time the extent of the construction worker's injuries or how he initially fell into the hole. Officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Cobb County Fire Engineer Richard Williams provided some insight into the heroic rescue.
"People don't survive trench collapse. That's why it's very important when we're doing trench stuff: We gotta put trench boxes in, we gotta stabilize that hole," Williams said.
Back in December, another man was rescued after another trench collapsed in Paulding County.
"This is unheard of. This is twice in Paulding County we've had a miracle here that's saved someone's life," Williams added.
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