When people think of construction in New York City, they often picture tall cranes and a crew of men working on a building. However there is quite a bit of construction that takes place beneath the city streets and when a construction site accident happens, it can create a difficult situation for rescue workers. Explosions are not uncommon and workers must always be on the lookout for mud that has the power to suck them in and suffocate them.
One construction worker is lucky to be alive after a workplace accident immersed him in mud up to his waist. For four hours, rescuers worked to free him as well as keep the earth from swallowing him up. The man was one of several working on building a new tunnel for New York’s subway system when he slipped, falling into the thick mixture.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that the tunnel was 100 feet below the city, requiring the fire department and others to come up with a creative technique in order to get him out. During the process three fire fighters were also injured. The trapped man, who received minor injuries and suffered hypothermia, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. It is unknown whether the accident is under investigation.
Given his experience, the construction worker is likely to be kept in the hospital for a couple of days. He will want to file a worker’s compensation claim to cover the costs of the rescue and the medical expenses incurred from his harrowing ordeal. Anyone who is having difficulty in receiving compensation for a construction-related accident may want to meet with a legal professional for assistance.
Source: The New York Times, “To Save a Life, a Tug of War With the Earth,” Marc Santora and Matt Flegenheimer, March 20, 2013