Officials detail harrowing rescue of man buried in collapsed trench

Charleroi Fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr. said the collapse and rescue was unlike anything he has encountered in his nearly five decades as a volunteer firefighter.

Buried chest-deep in cold clay and debris, a sewer line contractor clung to hope Thursday night in Charleroi as dozens of first responders clawed through dirt and debris to reach him. Five hours later — against all odds — he climbed out of the trench on his own two feet.

The man, a private contractor working on a sewer line outside Davies Ford on McKean Avenue, was inside a roughly 14-foot-deep trench when the walls gave way at 8:20 p.m. His name has not been released by officials.

He became trapped from the chest down, pinned beneath clay, rock and concrete, resting near the bucket of a small excavator as soil and debris closed in around him.

Around 1:30 Friday morning after an extraordinary, hours-long effort by hundreds of first responders from across five counties, he emerged battered but alive — and on his own feet.

The scene quickly becoming a full-scale technical rescue operation.

Charleroi Fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr. and his crew were first on the scene and immediately recognized the severity: a worker buried 14 feet down with unstable trench walls, rising pressure on his body, and equipment threatening to shift at any moment.

“We called it in as a trench collapse incident and 911 activated everyone we could per that protocol,” Whiten said. “It wasn’t something one department could handle. We needed help — and help came.”

‘Everything had to go right’

The rescue unfolded through a coordinated mix of manpower, machinery, and quick thinking.

Rescue teams from Allegheny, Greene, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties joined Charleroi crews, bringing in trench boxes, vacuum trucks, rope systems and years of technical experience.

In addition to the fire and rescue crews, several non-emergency agencies played critical roles in supporting the operation.

The Authority of the Borough of Charleroi was called in to provide equipment and assist with trench stabilization, drawing on their infrastructure expertise.

ABC helped manage utility access points and ensured water lines in the area remained secure.

They improvised tools on the spot, including sawing off the end of a shovel and duct-taping it to the vacuum truck’s hose to create a makeshift handle—making it easier for crews to guide the heavy tubing in and out of the trench.

Columbia Gas and West Penn Power were dispatched as a safety precaution to assess potential utility hazards and shut down nearby lines if necessary.

The Salvation Army Disaster Services also arrived on scene, offering food, drinks, and support to crews working through the night.

Their combined efforts helped create a safer environment for rescuers and prevented additional complications during the delicate extraction.

Firefighters formed an assembly line to remove dirt by hand, shovel and bucket.

Crews used a VacCom truck from Monessen to suction out hundreds of pounds of dirt — a key tactic that allowed them to remove debris without causing further collapse.

Rescuers also used an air cutter — a high-pressure air tool — to break up the compacted clay around the trapped worker.

The air cutter allowed them to cut through the heavy soil without using sharp or vibrating tools that could risk another collapse or injure the man.

Once loosened, the dirt was immediately sucked out using the VacCom truck’s hose.

This combination let crews remove soil quickly and safely, inching closer to freeing the man without disturbing the fragile trench walls.

The VacCom truck, which typically relies on water to help loosen and remove debris, was forced to run dry during the rescue — a more challenging and less efficient method. To compensate, crews rigged up a garden hose to lightly wet the clay, softening the dense soil just enough for the vacuum to do its job. “It was a slower process, but it worked,” said Monessen Municipal Fire Chief Delmar Hepple. “Every bit of progress mattered.”

A secondary collapse during the rescue sent concrete and dirt sliding — but thanks to quick thinking and trench panels already in place, no one was hurt.

Staying alive

Meanwhile, weather remained a looming threat. A sudden downpour could have turned the dense clay into a heavy, unstable mess, further endangering both victim and rescuers.

“That clay turns to concrete when it rains,” Whiten said. “We were lucky it held off as long as it did — even a little water would’ve made the whole thing a lot more dangerous.”

Out of caution, the water authority had pumps ready to clear out any stormwater — but the skies stayed clear, giving crews the time they desperately needed.

As firefighters above ground worked steadily to dig him out, EMTs below were focused on keeping the trapped man stable — and hopeful.

Paramedics crawled into the trench beside him, administering oxygen and IV fluids, monitoring his vital signs, and keeping his airway clear in the cramped, debris-filled space.

“He was talking to us, he knew what was going on, which is pretty amazing,” Whiten said. “We had a paramedic in the hole giving him cardiac support, IVs, whatever he needed. The big thing was just keeping him calm. He said, ‘I want out of here,’ and we told him, ‘We’re gonna get you out. Just hold on.’” Crews rotated medics in and out to ensure someone was always by his side.

Their care wasn’t just medical — it was emotional survival.

“I couldn’t believe he walked out of there,” Whiten said. “It was emotional. Because as time went on I think we were all getting scared. But, thank God he made it out. It could have been a very different outcome.”

He was taken by EMS to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he is now recovering.

Despite being trapped for nearly five hours and facing the risk of crush syndrome, the man reportedly suffered only a fractured ankle, some bumps and bruises, a blood clot and missing tooth.

Massive response

The scale of the operation was staggering: More than 20 fire departments, multiple EMS agencies, HAZMAT, Pennsylvania Search and Rescue, the Salvation Army, Columbia Gas, West Penn Power, PennDOT, and even LifeFlight, which arrived with a doctor in tow.

Firefighters used ropes, shoring panels, ventilation equipment, and constant coordination to stabilize the trench.

Clay-packed soil was handdug and vacuumed out.

Despite multiple setbacks, including collapsing soil and shifting debris, crews stayed focused.

“He was in there for hours, but never alone,” Whiten said. “We had people talking to him, calming him, keeping him motivated. He wanted out. And he walked out.”

Departments on scene included Charleroi, Monessen, Lock 4, Jefferson, Peters Township, Carroll Township, Bentleyville, Fallowfield, Rostraver, North Belle Vernon, New Alexandria, Sutersville, Forbes Road and Lloydsville fire companies. EMS crews from Rostraver/ West Newton, Murrysville Medic 1, Sewickley, Fayette EMS, Ambulance and Chair, and others also responded.

The Authority of the Borough of Charleroi was also called in to assist. Officials confirmed ABC was not involved in the accident.

Additional support came from Charleroi Regional Police, Washington County HAZMAT, Pennsylvania Search and Rescue, and the Salvation Army Disaster Services, and Bujanowski Towing.

Norfolk Southern shut down the railroad to not interfere with rescue efforts.

First responders, hundreds of them, could be seen for blocks in each direction of the scene.

Whiten said the rescue effort was a testament to teamwork, where every person on scene played a critical role — whether hauling buckets of dirt, rigging ropes, or just keeping people safe.

“This wasn’t a one-department job. Everyone had a part, and every job mattered,” Whiten said. “You had guys directing traffic, others running tools back and forth, some just standing by ready to jump in — it all counted. That’s what made the difference. It was one of the best displays of coordinated response I’ve ever seen in my 48 years. It ran like clockwork.”

A first for the chief

The trench collapse was unlike anything Whiten has encountered in his nearly five decades in the fire service.

It was his first time commanding a technical trench rescue — and he didn’t pretend to have all the answers.

“This isn’t something you see every day, and it sure wasn’t something I’d done before,” Whiten said. “I knew we needed experts — people who’ve trained for this exact scenario. I called them in, and they showed up.”

Whiten credited the rescue’s success to the depth of experience brought in by neighboring departments and specialty teams, as well as the seamless coordination on the ground.

“I’ve been doing this 48 years, but I’ve never run a technical trench rescue like this,” Whiten said. “You’ve got to rely on people who know more than you do in those moments. I called in the best, and I learned from every single one of them. You never stop learning in this job — every call teaches you something new.

“This one taught me a lot, but more than anything, it reminded me what kind of people we have — they show up, they get to work, and they save lives.”

So many heroes

Elected officials and local leaders praised the rescue effort as nothing short of heroic, offering high praise for the first responders who helped save the trapped worker.

Council President Kristin Hopkins called them “our angels here on earth.

“Thank you to all the first responders… EMTs, Life-Flight, rescue teams, our street crew, ABC Water, Bujanowski’s towing, the Salvation Army, West Penn Power, PennDOT. Our first responders are truly our angels here on earth! So many heroes. He walked away. God is so good.”

State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, echoed that sentiment.

“‘He’s out!’ Those are the best words we have heard in an over five-hour ordeal. Thank you to Kristin Hopkins for keeping everyone in the loop and standing with the victim’s father. Our first responders saved a life.”

State Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township, praised the coordination and speed of the rescue.

“Job well done! Because of their valiant efforts, a potentially disastrous situation was avoided. Our communities are forever grateful,” Cook said.

Councilman Larry Celaschi added, “When disaster strikes, it’s their courage and expertise that protects lives. Thank you for a job exceptionally well done.”

The Donora Fire Department also shared its appreciation for the multi-agency effort.

“Anyone familiar with these types of incidents knows they often end in recoveries, not rescues. Hats off to everyone involved — it was textbook teamwork,” the fire department said.