Man saved from trench

WORKMATES had to dig a man out of a collapsed trench at a Cranbourne building site on Tuesday morning.
Paramedics were called to the scene just before 11am.
Intensive care paramedic Andrew Burns said the 45-year-old worker was trapped for about five minutes.
“The man was trapped when the trench collapsed and pinned him against the side of the trench,” Mr Burns said.
“It took about five minutes for his workmates to dig him out.
“The man obviously saw his life flash before his eyes for anything up to five minutes while he was trapped. His workmates have done an extremely good job to get him out.
“The man was understandably extremely anxious and he told us it was his son’s birthday today, so that made him more anxious.”
Mr Burns said the man suffered a number of injuries from the incident.
“The man had an extensive compressive force from a big volume of earth coming down on him and pushing him into the side of the trench,” he said.
“He suffered significant chest and back injuries on his left side and some abdominal injuries as well.
“He had a collapsed lung and the potential for internal bleeding which requires diligent assessment and reassessment and monitoring on the way to the hospital.
“The man was given fluid through a drip in his arm and strong painkillers to make him more comfortable.”
He was taken to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition.