Contractor Rescued in Trench Collapse on Mercer Island

Mercer Island Firefighters helped resuce a man trapped in a collapsed trench while working on a home foundation repair job.

According to Mercer Island Fire Battalion Chief Shawn Matheson, the man was working this morning in a six-foot deep trench about 18-inches wide at the rear of the house when the trench caved in up to his waist, pinning him to the cement foundation. A co-worker contacted Mercer Island Fire Department, which responded at 11:32. 

As TV news station helicopters flew overhead, firefighters worked carefully and methodically to remove the man from the trench by cutting holes through the deck he was under with chainsaws to reach him and by giving him a shovel to dig himself out. Once a specialty rescue team from Seattle arrived, firefighters used mechanical shores and struts to stabilize the trench. The man was remained conscious and was extricated from the trench and transported to Harborview Medical Center shortly before 2 p.m. with no apparent injuries.

Three fire engines and firefighters from Bellevue, Seattle, Eastside Fire and Woodinville responded to the rescue call, including a special rescue team.

"We train for these types of incidents," said M.I.F.D's Matheson. "He's really lucky — he could have been killed."

A neighbor passing by said residents had heard someone yelling earlier in the morning as the fire department engines and ambulances began to arrive. 

"There's not usually that much action on our street like this!" she exclaimed.