Trench collapses on 2 men

NEWPORT BEACH — Two construction workers at a Newport Beach home found themselves stuck in the dirt when a trench collapsed on them Thursday morning, with one man knocked unconscious and trapped up to his thighs. But a quick response by 30 firefighters prevented a tragedy.

Rescuers from the Newport and Costa Mesa fire departments responded to reports of the collapse in the 200 block of Santa Ana Avenue just after 11 a.m., fire officials said. Santa Ana firefighters were also present for backup, along with Newport Beach police and building department agents.

A 6-by-5-foot section of dirt pulled away from the slope of the trench and fell on the workers, said Newport Fire Capt. Mike Liberto.

One worker pulled himself out, “but the other guy got hit on the head pretty bad, and he was unconscious,” he said.

When firefighters arrived, they used the heavier equipment carried by two Urban Search and Rescue units to shore up the rest of the trench before it collapsed any further. Then they quickly freed the second man from the dirt and treated him for injuries. Liberto said the operation took about 25 minutes from start to finish.

The worker who pulled himself out began complaining of chest discomfort, and paramedics took him to Western Medical Center, Liberto said. The other man, more seriously injured, was taken to nearby Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. Further information about his condition and the extent of his injuries was not released.

Newport Beach Fire Chief Steve Lewis said that working together was key to the rescue effort.

“They did a really excellent job of cooperating between so many different agencies,” he said.