Firefighters rescue construction worker trapped under ton of debris in Lynn
LYNN — Firefighters worked furiously using saws Friday morning to rescue a construction worker who was seriously injured when he became trapped under a ton of rebar that fell on him at an apartment building worksite in Lynn, officials said.
The worker was in stable condition Friday night, Lieutenant Michael Kmiec, a spokesman for Lynn police, said in a statement to the Globe.
The worker was conscious and alert following the accident, which occurred on Munroe Street and was reported at 8:15 a.m., Kmiec told the Globe earlier Friday.
“They were concerned about internal injuries,” Kmiec said.
The worker, a 38-year-old man, was taken by ambulance to a MedFlight helicopter and flown to Boston Medical Center.
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Lynn firefighters used saws and other tools to cut the worker free from the rebar, Lynn Fire Department spokesman Captain Joseph Zukas said.
It took about 20 to 25 minutes to extricate him from the rebar; he was going in and out of consciousness at the time, Zukas said.
“They did it very quickly,” he said. “The paramedics were treating him as he was being extricated.”
Zukas said the man was trapped underneath “at least a ton” of rebar.
Colleagues of the injured worker may have also been trying to help free him, he said.
“People on scene said he was lucky that he didn’t get impaled,” Zukas said. “It’s amazing it turned out as well as it did.”
The injured worker was on the MedFlight helicopter by 9:12 a.m., Zukas said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration went to the scene after the accident was reported.
Robert Carson, the director of safety and risk management for the construction management firm Dellbrook | JKS, said the injured worker was a subcontractor.
“We don’t know exactly what happened; it’s still under investigation as to the cause,” Carson said. “But what we do know is that part of the rebar structure slid and failed . . . it fell over into some of the individuals down there, pinning one of them.”
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Besides the worker who was hospitalized, Carson said he was not aware of any other injuries.
“All the other individuals that were down there were able to remove themselves,” he said.
When asked whether the wind may have been a factor, Carson declined to comment. He said the company is cooperating with authorities and waiting to get more information as the investigation continues.
“Obviously, we take safety extremely seriously,” Carson said. “And when events like this happen, our first thoughts are with the individual and their family, and from what we understand, he’s in stable condition. So our thoughts are with him at this time.”
John O’Connor, a representative with the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, said he has not been at the Lynn site but said he’s been sharing his concerns with Dellbrook about safety issues at their other work sites.
“I’m glad nobody died. . . . They’ve been lucky,” O’Connor said. “Construction is a dangerous, dangerous business.”
Correspondent Andrew Stanton contributed to this story. John Hilliard can be reached at john.hilliard@globe.com. Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney.