Construction Worker Buried in Trench in Greenbelt is 'Alive and is in Good Spirits'

GREENBELT, MD — A frightening, hours-long ordeal for a construction worker is over after he was buried up to his chest in a 12-foot-deep trench that collapsed Wednesday afternoon, and authorities say he is recovering well at the hospital.

It took 60 firefighters, medics and technical rescue personnel about five hours to free the unidentified man, who is around 50 years old, according to a report from the Prince George's County Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to the 500 block of Crescent Road in Greenbelt at around 1 p.m. on Nov. 16 for a "trench rescue" near Greenbelt Lake. Personnel found that the man was in the trench when it collapsed, completely covering him with dirt. Co-workers were able to remove dirt from around his head and upper chest so that he could breathe, the report states.

"The Technical rescue team went work in shoring up the first walls and accessing the victim," the report states. "An oxygen line was passed on to the victim that remained conscious and alert throughout the ordeal. Warm air was pumped in to the trench as personnel removed handful after handful of dirt from around the victim. Dirt soon turned to mud slowing the tedious task of freeing the trapped victim."

A Technical Rescue Team from Howard County arrived on the scene around three hours later and help Prince George's County rescuers. At about 6 p.m., the man was pulled from the trench. He was treated on scene and flown via helicopter to the trauma center.

Injuries were not life-threatening. The report indicates that the man is "alive and is in good spirits" as he recovers from his injuries at the trauma center Thursday morning.

Image via PGFD