A construction worker in Paulding County was rescued Friday after he was buried up to his chest in soil about 20 feet below ground when a trench collapsed at a residential site, officials said.
“We showed up and could not see the victim,” Capt. Brandon Maple with the Paulding fire department said.
But thanks to a coworker who cleared the man’s face and collaboration between Paulding and Cobb County rescue teams, the man was pulled to safety about 3½ hours later.
Firefighters rescued him just after 3 p.m. at the site on Persian Ivy Way near Dallas. Collapsing soil and clay buried the man up to his armpits, but he was fully conscious for the entire ordeal, which began around noon, Paulding fire Lt. Steve Mapes told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
A man at the scene who identified himself as the homebuilder declined to comment on what caused the collapse, which happened between two homes under construction in a cul-de-sac.
Investigators worked to clear the man’s airway while dealing with a language barrier, Maple said. It was essential to keep the victim calm despite being surrounded by equipment used in the rescue.
“Not only is it a closed-in space, but you are actually completely encapsulated with soil,” he said. “The weight of the soil is very tremendous.”
It was the second time in three months that a dramatic rescue has taken place in Paulding.
On Dec. 19, a worker fell about 20 feet into a rock hopper at a quarry near Dallas. He was trapped for more than five hours, officials said.
The man was eventually pulled free and complained of back pain and numbness in his legs, the AJC reported. He was treated in an ambulance and taken to the hospital.
According to Maple, the prior incident was coined “the Christmas miracle,” while Friday’s episode was called an “Easter miracle.”
“God is definitely on these men’s side, but it’s also challenged the county,” Maple said.
During Friday’s incident, medical personnel provided the man with oxygen and an IV while he remained buried. Firefighters devised a rope-and-ladder system to lift him from the pit while keeping his body as stable as possible.
Maple said rescue workers also tried to stabilize the trench and bring in the proper equipment to remove the soil around him.
The man, whose name was not released, was eventually freed and placed on a stretcher, then carried to a waiting ambulance. From there, he was taken to a helicopter to be flown to Grady Memorial Hospital. The extent of the man’s injuries was not known late Friday.
The episode made for an exciting afternoon in the neighborhood. At nearby Abney Elementary School, Reagan Cunningham was in her physical education class when she heard an announcement on the intercom.
”Stay inside, everyone. There is no need to worry,” the voice on the announcements said.
Students later saw a helicopter land behind the school, where it waited to take the injured man to Grady.
Reagan’s father, Robert Cunningham, was outside painting when he saw the first of many fire trucks rolling down the street.
”They just kept coming,” he said.
After the worker was rescued, the Cunninghams walked to the cul-de-sac to learn what happened. Both were relieved that the man survived.
In addition to Cobb firefighters, the Dallas public works department’s suction truck was brought in to help remove material from the trench.
“We couldn’t have done this without Paulding fire and Dallas public works,” Richard Williams, an engineer with Cobb squad 7, said after the rescue. “These guys saved that guy’s life today and they’re the real heroes today.”
It was the teamwork, Williams said, that led to the best possible outcome.
“This is unheard of,” he said. “This is twice in Paulding County that we’ve had a miracle here to save someone’s life. This is just unheard of. It doesn’t happen often.”
