Buried alive

Gainesville firefighters rescued a construction worker at a Gainesville hospital who fell into a deep hole and was covered by dirt Thursday morning.

Gainesville Fire Rescue crews used harnesses and ladders to get the man to safety.

The incident was reported at 9:15 a.m. at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center on Southwest 16th Avenue. GFR Lt. Jeff Schuhmacher said the technical rescue team was among the responder crews.

“That’s their specialty, so this was their call,” Schuhmacher said. “They train a lot just for calls like this.”

The hole was about 30 feet across and 10 feet deep. The construction worker was completely covered by one to two feet of dirt and not visible from the top of the hole, GFR officials reported in a news release.

Rescuers descended into the hole, mindful that the walls could collapse, and dug with shovels and hands to find the worker’s head.

He was breathing but not conscious. As he was uncovered, his breathing improved and he regained consciousness.

Crews set up a safe system with harnesses and ropes to lift him out. The rescue took about 20 minutes.

“He was conscious and alert when they took him to the hospital,” Schuhmacher said. “I talked to the paramedic in the ambulance, and they couldn’t find any outward injuries on him. He should play the lottery.”

Schuhmacher said he did not have any information about why the man fell into the hole.