Man rescued after getting trapped in trench collapse at east Edmonton construction site

Emergency crews were successfully able to free a man from a collapsed trench at an east Edmonton construction site late Thursday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services said seven crews, including a technical rescue crew, were called to the scene at 43 Street and 104 Avenue at about 2:50 p.m.

The man was still responsive shortly before 4 p.m. and crews were working to pull him out.

Watch below: Aerial video taken by the Global One News Helicopter in east Edmonton on Thursday shows emergency crews rescuing a man trapped after a trench collapsed at a construction site.

0:44 Video captures crews rescuing man after trench collapses at Edmonton construction site

During the rescue, district chief Todd Weiss said the victim had “a good pulse and good blood pressure” and was talking with rescuers, as his head was fortunately above ground.

“They were doing some excavating,” said Station Capt. Kevin Tarkowski. “They were doing some shoring around it. The patient ended up somehow on the other side of the shoring and got buried in a collapse.

“He actually slipped in the initial collapse underneath that shoring so his legs were underneath that, pinned.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He actually slipped in the initial collapse underneath that shoring so his legs were underneath that, pinned."

Rescuers stabilized the hole where the patient was buried up to the top of the shoulders. Weiss noted the patient had “discomfort in his legs” but “was doing quite well under the circumstances.”

Watch below: A firefighter involved in a dramatic rescue at a construction site in Edmonton on Thursday says crews had just been training for that type of scenario when they were called to respond. Vinesh Pratap filed this report on June 15, 2018.

1:56 Edmonton firefighter speaks out about dramatic trench collapse rescue

Tarkowski later confirmed the patient was able to move his legs.

Weiss said the man was buried in dirt when the trench collapsed.

“He’s lucky that his head wasn’t buried and that he’s able to breathe and talk to us,” he added.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He's lucky that his head wasn't buried and that he's able to breathe and talk to us," he added.

Shortly before 6 p.m., rescue workers could be seen lifting the man out of a hole on a ladder before he was put into an ambulance.

Global News has reached out to Alberta Occupational Health and Safety to ask if they will be investigating the incident.

-With files from Global News’ Sarah Kraus

View photos of the rescue scene below: