Story updated with details.
At 12:26pm today, a call went out for a "cave-in" on Thoreau Avenue.
What had actually happened was a good size backhoe fell into the ditch it was digging onto another workman. Literally 6+ tons of machine on this worker.
Lakewood Police and Fire got their quickly and stabilized the victim, and stopped the backhoe from shifting any more than it had. While a call went out to Kufner Towing for help ASAP
The way the victim was stabilized is with inflatable bags. They could not lift the back hoe up to high as it could have shifted and crushed the man. So with bags in place fire fighters went into the hole to release some pressure on his legs and chest. They waited while Kufner arrived, once there police and fire went back into the hole to stabilize it with the tow trucks lift but not to much.
Kufner Towing showed up with two massive trucks, and started to hook up the backhoe.
Acting Mayor, Brian Corrigan also the Law Director watches the great work going on with Lakewood Police and Fire.
Metro Airflight landed at Garfield School and walked over to the scene.
With everyone in place, the idea was to lift the backhoe just enough to get the victim out.
With the truck and victim stablized enough room was made to get him on a back board, and up out of the hole.
Now strapped onto a backboard, police and fire went in the hole to secure him on, he is lifted out.
Now out of the hole and on the ground the crew gets ready to lift him to the Metro Life Flight gurney.
With the victim out of the hole, crews look back into where he was rescued from.
The doctors on Metro Life Flight check him out to see what is needed.
Then down Thoreau to take him to a waiting helicopter.
The man was responsive to the doctors, what that means I have no idea. But he came out in far better shape than any of us thought he would.
I will update with more information.
With a tough job well done, the crew takes a break for water. Almost 90 minutes in heat.
After all was settled down, the crews relax and think about what they just went through.
Thank you Lakewood Police and Fire, you rock!
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