NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A backhoe operator was rescued after being trapped for 12 hours during a landslide in Lewis County Tuesday night.
The Maury County Fire Department said it dispatched assistance to Lewis County for a landslide incident in the Hampshire community. Upon arrival, crews found that the face of a flint well had collapsed onto a backhoe, completely burying it.
The backhoe operator, who was trapped for 12 hours, was able to speak to first responders. He said only his head and one arm were above the dirt, as only a small portion of the roof of the backhoe was visible.
MCFD said crews placed a pipe to the area, where the operator was to provide fresh air.
A large amount of heavy equipment was rushed to the scene to rescue the operator, including a skid steer and a civilian backhoe. Crews began digging with shovels and formed a “bucket brigade” to remove dirt from the immediate area of the trapped backhoe.
During the rescue, the operator received oxygen and specialized care for the time he was trapped. After the dirt was removed from the sides of the backhoe, the roof was cut with a rotary saw while chained up and lifted off the backhoe.
More dirt was removed by hand from around the man and successfully removed from the backhoe. The man was taken by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.
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