Trench Rescue In Caln

Around 8:30 am, Station 76 (VAMC-Coatesville FD), Medic 93 (Brandywine Hospital Medics) and Station 72 (Chester County Rescue TF) were dispatched to the VA Medical Center-Coatesville for a trench rescue. Contractors were reportedly installing electrical conduit when something went wrong. One worker was trapped up to his neck in soil in the narrow trench. Station 76 firefighter's and the victim's co-workers were able to dig dirt away from his upper body, but he remained heavily trapped from his lower chest down by tons of soil. Assistant Chief Tim Gathercole had mobilized the task force units early into the incident bringing units from Stations 53 (Fame-West Chester), 47 (Lionville), 35 (Wagontown), 68 (Valley Forge), 6 (Exton), 38 (Thorndale) and Medic 2 (Berwyn) to the scene. The incident occurred behind Building 59 on the hospital grounds. Several pieces of construction equipment were adjacent to the trench lip and were secured. Upon arrival of the Task Force units an equipment and personnel staging area was established and the trench was secured using shoring panels, and Paratech Struts. Task Force medical personnel were able to access the victim and begin advanced life support procedures by securing an intravenous (IV) line, providing IV fluids and oxygen to the victim. After two hours of work the victim was freed and safely removed from the trench to the awaiting EMS unit. He was transported to Paoli Memorial Hospital (Level II Trauma Center) for treatment. All personnel and equipment were safely removed from the trench area and the scene was turned over to the VAMC PD for further investigation.

Story courtesy of The Chester County Rescue Taskforce.