Cedar Rapids, IA – Personnel with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department safely extricated a trapped private utility contractor from a trench collapse, Tuesday morning. In the social media post, the F.D. said that at approximately 9:39-a.m., Tuesday, Joint Communications Agency Dispatchers received a call for a trapped worker in the 600 block of 1st Ave SW. Rescue teams with specialized training and equipment were immediately sent to the scene. Upon arrival, a single adult male was located trapped from the waist down in a collapsed work space where he had been repairing utility lines to a nearby business.

Crews deployed shoring tools and made their way into the 8 to 10 foot-deep hole and began the process of removing the victim while preventing further collapse. The victim was conscious and able to communicate with responders as the rescue proceeded. Ultimately, the victim was removed from the trench and sent to a local hospital with unknown injuries to his lower extremities. Firefighters then cleared the work site and removed their safety equipment. Cedar Rapids Sewer employees were dispatched to the scene and used digging equipment to remove soil from the edge to prevent further collapse. Area Ambulance and Cedar Rapids Police also assisted on-scene.

Photos via the Cedar Rapids F.D. Facebook page.

Officials say “This was a significant rescue for CRFD. Rescue teams have trained annually on these types of scenarios since 1996, but this is the first time a worker has been trapped in the City limits and required this type of specialized response.”