Man Pulled from Trench After 5 Hour EMS Effort

Seat Pleasant, MD – An adult male was trapped in a trench about 5:15 Sunday afternoon when a wall collapsed covering the victim with dirt and mud.   Initially the dirt covered the victims entire body, bystanders uncovered his head and face prior to calling 911.

The incident occurred in the 5900 block of Seat Pleasant Drive.   The victim is the manager of a nearby restaurant who was inside the trench at the time of the collapse.  No shoring was in place inside the seven to ten foot deep trench when the first Fire/EMS units arrived on the scene.

When Fire/EMS workers arrived, the dirt and mud covered his body up to about the mid-chest level.  The victim appeared dazed and confused adding to the concerns about the seriousness of his injuries.

Members of the Technical Rescue Team were faced with several challenges during the rescue effort including, water filling the trench, hypothermic conditions for the victim, impending thunderstorms, and removing the dirt and mud trapping the victim.  Fifty personnel were on the scene assisting in the rescue effort.

WSSC and PEPCO staff were on the scene to cut utility service in the immediate area.  This helped to control the flow of water into the trench and reduce a potential hazard from a nearby power line.