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Fire department rescues construction worker from trench in Riverton

The man was unharmed despite having been buried up to his chest.

(Courtesy of the Unified Fire Authority) Firefighters work to remove dirt trapping a construction worker.

(Courtesy of the Unified Fire Authority) Firefighters work to remove dirt trapping a construction worker.

Firefighters from the Unified Fire Authority successfully saved a man who had been buried up to his chest on Saturday.

Department spokesman Ryan Love said a call came in around 12:40 p.m. about a man trapped near S. Lovers Lane in Riverton. Love said the man had been doing construction work and was standing near a trench when the ground beneath him collapsed and sucked him down. Dirt fell on top of him burying him to his chest.

The man was able to talk to fire department personnel when they arrived on scene. It took more than two hours to remove enough dirt to get him out safely, but he came out of the ordeal unharmed. Love said the man was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

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