Worker Rescued From Trench At Ipswich Construction Site

IPSWICH (CBS) ---- Crews worked for nearly two hours to free a construction worker, trapped in a trench on Country Road.

According to Ipswich Police, the trench partially collapsed as workers were on a job site where they are building an assisted living facility.

The worker, identified as William Gallagher, 40, of North Reading, was taken to Boston Medical Center by medical helicopter.

Gallagher is said to have a lower leg injury, possibly a broken ankle or leg, but is expected to be OK.

According to authorities, Gallagher was covered with sand, dirt and an 8-to-10 inch thick blanket of asphalt. His legs were wrapped around a gas main.

Gallagher was conscious during the whole rescue effort.

It's unknown if Gallagher was working in the trench at the time or if he fell in.

The company he was working for, The Congress Companies out of Peabody, released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

The Congress Companies, who are the general contractors on the sewer extension project, have immediately deployed its safety officers and project management personnel to determine the cause of the subcontractor's incident, as well as work with the applicable authorities. The Congress Companies' focus at this time is to ensure the safety of all its subcontractors' workers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the injured man with hopes for a speedy and full recovery.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, two workers are killed every month in trench collapses.

One cubic yard of soil weighs as much as a car and according to OSHA, "an unprotected trench is an early grave."

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