A construction worker was alert and responsive, and able to speak to first responders, after a complicated and hazardous all-day rescue effort to free him from a collapsed trench in South Yarmouth Tuesday, where sewer lines are being replaced.
One other man was injured as he tried to help. He managed to get himself out of the hole as first responders arrived.
“We also had another, someone on scene who had jumped in and tried to help,” Yarmouth Fire Chief Enrique Arrascue said. “So that person had been buried up to about his knees so he was able to extricate on his own with some help from our responders. He’s been brought to Cape Cod Hospital for evaluation and treatment.”
Another worker died in the collapse.
“We have a third victim in the trench that is deceased,” said Arrascue.
Arrascue said his crews and the Barnstable County Tech Rescue Team, trained to handle complex rescues, were called to the scene just before 9 a.m. They said they utilized a ladder truck placed directly over the collapsed trench where the workers became trapped while working on an excavation project. They used pulleys, ladders, and ropes for hours to free the trapped worker who survived.
“The second victim took a number of hours,” said Arrascue. “It was a very complicated rescue, we had people in there trying to get him out, but we had some complications as we tried to remove him.”
Officials told 7NEWS the man was able to communicate during the incident. The construction worker was stuck for more than four hours, but appeared to have enough energy to reach out and grab the hand of another man who was comforting him as he was wheeled to an ambulance.
“We had a lot of great help, a lot of people on scene who were great,” said Arrascue.
First responders said they stabilized a worker at the construction site then they drove him up a parking lot for a MedFlight. The man is being treated at Rhode Island hospital. No word yet on his injuries.
Revoli Construction has an $18 million contract with the town for a new wastewater treatment system.
An investigator with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was on site.
OSHA records show Revoli was fined thousands of dollars for safety hazards in 2023 and 2024. In one case, OSHA said the company failed to protect employees from cave-ins.
Arrascue was asked about those issues involving Revoli.
“I have no comment on that,” Arrascue said.
The federal government is investigating.
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