Technical rescue crews rescued a man who was stuck in a trench in Halifax Tuesday morning.
According to the Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team, crews were able to talk to Paul Brown, 50, who had become stuck in the trench approximately 8 feet down throughout the rescue. Brown is a contractor who was working on the home’s septic system on South Street.
Paramedics were able to start an IV on Brown in the trench as crews worked to free him. Crews also set up a heater to send warm air down to him to prevent hypothermia.
The Halifax Fire Chief said there was dirt piled up on the side of the trench and a piece of the trench’s wall collapsed, causing the dirt to fall into the trench and bury Brown up to his chest.
Many Plymouth County firefighters who are also part of the technical rescue team helped with the rescue.
"They don’t always end this way, so no, this was definitely a happy ending," said Rob O’Brien of Plymouth County Technical Rescue.
Brown was pulled to safety after almost two hours and was airlifted to Boston Medical Center. His injuries appear to be non-life threatening.
OSHA was on the scene to investigate.
Victim trapped in Hallifax trench has been freed #7news pic.twitter.com/gzgxzWGs8h
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) March 29, 2016
Victim has been extricated. Medics attending to him. Will be moving to a Medflight helicopter. pic.twitter.com/BEceaEd5pS
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
Fire chief says the victim is conscious and it may be 30 more minutes before he is freed #7news pic.twitter.com/LgxxLL3do3
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) March 29, 2016
***PCTRT*** working to dig the victim out. Rescuers are talking to the victim. Active Rescue pic.twitter.com/U1aNjmbTe4
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
PCTRT working with @halifaxfire to rescue a trapped 50 year old male approximately 8′ down in a trench pic.twitter.com/b1dV3fAO38
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
Paramedics start an IV on the victim in the hole as they work to free him. pic.twitter.com/X7hji9Xos3
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
A heater has been set up to send warm air into the victim to prevent hypothermia #PCTRT pic.twitter.com/QL5FebZsbo
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
Technical teams scrambling in Hallifax to rescue man trapped in a trench..updates shortly #7news pic.twitter.com/5oog8vefbF
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) March 29, 2016
Rescuers are talking to male who is trapped in trench. Active rescue by PCTRT underway. pic.twitter.com/V3H9aHlMZI
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
PCTRT active tech rescue of a victim trapped in a trench. pic.twitter.com/QtZBZzxfLh
— Plymouth County TRT (@PCTRT) March 29, 2016
Halifax Fire and the Plymouth County Tech Rescue Team working a collapsed trench
— Halifax Police Dept (@HalifaxMAPolice) March 29, 2016
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