Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Worker rescued from pile of dirt and rock

A construction worker was rescued Tuesday after falling into a ditch and being buried under at least three feet of dirt and rock, officials said.

The unidentified victim was trapped in the trench at Bermuda Road and Clauser Avenue -- near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road -- for roughly 20 minutes before a rescue team extracted him about 2:30 p.m., Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

Rescuers could see part of the man's body and thought that he had not survived until they noticed slight movement, Leinbach said. They immediately dug him out using a special rescue tool, a shovel and their hands, he said.

The man appeared to be disoriented, but after fire personnel cleared his airway and the weight off his chest, he rapidly improved, Leinbach said.

"He seemed to be in pretty good shape," he added.

The worker was flown to a hospital but his exact condition could not be ascertained.