Two Rescued from a Trench Collapse in Duncan, SC
The incident took place Friday October 21, 2022 in Spartanburg County, SC. The men were working on a construction project at Byrnes Highschool on East Main Street in Duncan, SC.
It was reported that they were about 20’ below ground. One man was trapped up to his waste, and the other up to his shoulders.
Both men were taken to the hospital, one by ambulance, and the other being air lifted from the scene.
The Duncan Fire Department Trench Team were on site, and brought in first responders from Cowpens Fire Department Technical Operations and Trench Collapse Unit, along with the Taylors, SC Fire Department to assist with the rescue.
Chief Barry Frost of the Cowpens Fire Department described the difficultly and delicacy of a trench rescue, saying they had to dig with a shovel the size of a campfire shovel, and remove the dirt by buckets.
Before rescue efforts can begin, measures must be taken to stabilize the collapse to protect those attempting the rescue. This is typically done with shoring boards, jacks, and timber shoring.
As Chief Frost stated, both men a very lucky to be alive.
Sources:
https://www.foxcarolina.com/video/2022/10/21/workers-rescued-trench-collapse/
