Tucson Fire Department honors construction workers for helping save man’s life during trench rescue

VIDEOS: The construction workers who helped save a manโ€™s life during a recent trench collapse in Tucson are getting some recognition. Several crews were called to the scene on Aug. 1, but the Tucson Fire Department said the rescue might not have been successful without the help of Northwest Construction workers. โ€œNo doubt did that company and those employees save this manโ€™s life,โ€ said Tucson Fire Department Capt. James Sieminski.

13 News was there on Aug. 1 as first responders worked for four hours to rescue a worker who got partially buried in a 20-foot construction trench in the Drexel Heights area. TFD said the trench was double the depth of the ones they normally see. โ€œThe guys were in there with small gardening tools trying to dig this person out, so we were only able to remove handfuls of dirt at a time,โ€ Sieminski said.

Thatโ€™s when Northwest Construction stepped in, using vacuum trucks to suck the dirt out of the trench. โ€œWithout it, we easily would have been there through the night and most certainly would have been a recovery,โ€ said Sieminski. โ€œWe just would not have gotten him out in time.โ€

Gregg Brchan, one of the owners of Northwest Construction, said his employees left the jobs they were working that day to help. โ€œWhen they knew it was happening, they were all on board and theyโ€™re there,โ€ said Brchan. Brchan said heโ€™s glad his employees are getting the recognition they deserve, but heโ€™s just happy their work ended in a successful rescue.

KOLD-TV CBS 13 Tucson

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