ALEXANDRIA, Ky. -- Rescue crews from Erlanger, Point Pleasant, Covington and Alexandria spent nearly three hours Thursday afternoon working to free a construction worker who became trapped 10 feet underground by a trench collapse.
For Brenda Gross, who lives nearby, coming home to find Acorn Street packed with ambulances and fire trucks was a shock. For Jake See, the paramedic who finally helped extricate the worker from the trench, it was just part of the job.
"We train on a regular basis for these situations," he said. "We're prepared for when it happens."
See was lowered upside down into the collapsed trench to check on the worker, who he said was conscious and alert throughout the entire rescue operation despite being trapped in dirt up to his hips.
The training See and his fellow paramedics had practiced so rigorously paid off in the end, and the worker was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in "good" condition, according to Sgt. Natalie Selby of the Alexandria Police Department.
"We always love a good outcome," Selby said. "That's why we do this. To help people. It's always good when you get to see a patient give a thumbs-up."
Officials didn't immediately identify the worker, a man in his 30s, or say what company he works for.