Calgary fire crews rescued a “semi-conscious” man from the bottom of a 12-foot (3.6-metre) trench after he was hit by construction equipment Friday afternoon.
The man, believed to be in his 50s, was injured at around 1 p.m. at the Coast Plaza Hotel in the 1300 block of 33 Street N.E.
“A worker was working in an excavation when he was struck by the bucket of a back hoe,” according to an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) spokesperson.
The walls of the trench were shored up before crews entered and heavy rescue teams used “specialty equipment to stabilize the side of the trench and prevent collapse of the walls,” according to a release from city.
EMS said the man was struck while he was inside the trench. An aerial ladder and stretcher were used to get him out. EMS said the man was taken to Foothills Medical Centre in potentially life-threatening condition with internal and head injuries.
OHS officers are investigating.