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Stamford firefighters were called to Hampton Lane just before 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, where they found the man trapped. He was alert and conscious when they arrived.
Rescue crews reinforced the trench walls with panels to stabilize them before they began to dig him out, Stamford authorities said. More than 20 rescuers worked quickly, digging in the dirt with their hands to pull the freezing man to safety.
Rescuers lifted the man from the trench in a stokes basket after more than 30 minutes of digging. He had a minor arm injury and was suffering from hypothermia, Stamford firefighters said.
The man was trapped for just shy of an hour and a half before being freed, according to Stamford Fire Chief Robert Morris.
"I have to admit the guys did an excellent job today," Morris said. "There's a lot that goes into this, and it's not an easy thing to do."
The man was working for a contractor hired by the town to dig sewer lines, Morris said. The name of the company was not released as the incident remains under investigation. The cause of the collapse was unclear.
Firefighters contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to investigate the incident.
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