By Associated Press - Tuesday, May 23, 2017

EMERY, S.D. (AP) - Authorities say quick intervention by his co-workers likely saved a man buried when a water-sewer trench collapsed in Emery.

Fire Chief Brian Leitheiser says that except for the man’s hand, the construction worker was completely covered in dirt Tuesday. He was on a crew from a Fort Pierre construction company working on a water and sewer replacement project.

Leitheiser says the quick action by his co-workers likely saved the man’s life. He has not been identified. The Daily Republic (https://bit.ly/2qSgbEE ) says the crew members and an EMT cleared the man’s head in about five minutes. It took another 30 minutes to completely uncover him.

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Information from: The Daily Republic, https://www.mitchellrepublic.com

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