Man Rescued After Fall Into Trench At Farmington Hills Construction Site

FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - A construction worker is hospitalized after a fall at a site in Farmington Hills.

Authorities say a man was working up on a scaffolding at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday when he fell about 20 feet into a trench at the lot where a Beaumont hospital expansion is being built, on Grand River Ave. near 8 Mile Rd.

Witnesses said it took a rescue crew about 20 minutes to lower someone down there and bring the man back up to ground.

"I seen a lot of clapping when he did come out, and when you see a little movement of somebody when they're coming out of there it makes you feel a lot better," said Charles Bankowski, with the Barton Malow Company.

According to Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh, the man was out of the pit before 3 p.m. He was administered emergency care by EMS at the scene and was "alert and talking" when he was taken to a local hospital for further treatment.

The man apparently suffered a series of broken ribs, and a T-12 spinal fracture, in addition to other injuries -- his overall condition was not released. No one else was hurt.

It's unclear at this time if the man was wearing a safety harness or what caused the accident. An investigation is ongoing.

The man's name was not released, although WWJ's Sandra McNeill was told his family is from Flint.