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Miraculous rescue of groundworker trapped in excavation collapse

This is Kent has reported that a builder was taken to hospital with leg and hip injuries after being caught in a ‘mudslide’ on a building site at Benenden School, Kent on Tuesday 18th January.

The injured man (said to be employed by BBS Construction) was airlifted to hospital following the incident which left him trapped up to his waist in heavy clay. He was working on the construction of a new science building when an “earth bank beside an excavation gave way”.

Firefighters spent almost an hour digging the man out using hand tools before he received treatment from paramedics. The Kent Air Ambulance later flew him to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Jeff Overton, of the South East Coast Ambulance Service, praised the actions of co-workers whose quick thinking aided the rescue efforts.

Mr Overton said:

“This man was extremely lucky and I honestly believe that if his colleagues hadn’t used the digger to prevent further earth movement, the emergency services’ efforts in rescuing him may have been seriously hampered.

All the emergency services worked well together in bringing about the safe rescue of this man.”

HSE has commenced investigation of the incident.

This article was posted on 21st January 2011 in ALL LATEST NEWS, EXCAVATIONS, INCIDENTS.
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