Local
Worker Freed After 20-Minute Trench Rescue on South Avenue in Bridgeton
A construction worker trapped against a concrete slab in a Bridgeton trench was freed by firefighters in about 20 minutes Tuesday morning and airlifted to Cooper Hospital. His condition remains unknown.
BRIDGETON, N.J. â A worker was pulled from a trench on the 500 block of South Avenue Tuesday morning after becoming pinned against a concrete slab, according to fire and emergency officials.
Crews were dispatched just after 9:30 a.m. and found the man trapped in the excavation. Firefighters worked for roughly 20 minutes to free him, officials said.
Once extricated, the worker was flown by helicopter to Cooper Hospital. Authorities did not release his name or an update on his condition.
The circumstances that led to the collapse or entrapment were not immediately detailed. It was also unclear which contractor was performing the work at the site.
Trench rescues are among the most hazardous calls for first responders, requiring careful shoring to prevent further collapse while rescuers reach a trapped worker. Federal workplace safety rules require protective systems for excavations deeper than five feet, and cave-ins remain a leading cause of death in construction.
Bridgeton fire and EMS crews were assisted at the scene by other emergency personnel. Officials did not say whether any other workers were injured.
The rescue comes as construction and utility work continues across Cumberland County. Local officials have not indicated whether the incident will prompt a review of safety practices at the site.