DUPO, Ill. — Rescue crews were able to pull a man out of a trench after it collapsed around him Monday in St. Clair County, Illinois.
The call for help came in at about 11:30 a.m. in Dupo. A trench collapsed in the railroad yard area near Carondelet Avenue, St. Clair County Emergency Management Director Herb Simmons said from the scene.
The man was trapped up to his neck, Simmons confirmed. Emergency responders worked for several hours to free him.
“Everybody’s working feverishly to get the individual out of the hole,” Simmons had said about an hour into the rescue mission.
First responders from several agencies responded to help the Dupo Fire Department. A medical helicopter flew in and was waiting at the scene to quickly transport the man to a hospital once he was freed from the collapsed trench.
At 3:20 p.m., Simmons confirmed with 5 On Your Side that the man had been rescued and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. The worker was alert and breathing when he was rescued, Simmons added.
The emergency management director did not confirm how the man became trapped or what he was trapped in.
This is a developing story that will be updated as 5 On Your Side confirms more information.