TWO workmen were almost buried alive after a sewerage trench in which they were working collapsed on them yesterday.
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Both were in Orange Base Hospital yesterday evening after a dramatic rescue.
The two men, private contractors contracted to Bathurst Regional Council, were working in the trench at Hobson Close, Eglinton at 1.45pm when it caved in, trapping them.
The trench was estimated to be five metres deep.
One man was trapped waist deep and the other was completely buried.
Police believe co-workers at the scene frantically worked to free the pair while emergency crews made their way to assist.
When police, paramedics and the Rural Fire Service arrived, they found one man, a 44-year-old, had been extracted, but the other man remained partly buried.
"One man had been extracted by, we presume, fellow workers, although that hasn't been established yet, and the second male was still buried at shoulder height, as someone had managed to free his arms," Inspector Colin Cracknell of Bathurst police said.
Inspector Cracknell said the 44-year-old who was freed from the trench was transported to Orange Base Hospital by road ambulance suffering lacerations to his head and undisclosed chest injuries.
He remained in Orange Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition late yesterday.
The second man was freed at 4.55pm and was taken to Orange Base Hospital by NSW Air Ambulance.
He had suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder.
Inspector Cracknell said the nature of the rescue meant it was dangerous for everyone.
"Police Rescue were working to free him, but the trench was so unstable it was a slow and tedious task," he said.
"They had to dig him out by hand using a shovel."
He said machinery could not be used because it risked resulting in a further collapse that trapped rescue workers as well.
Inspector Cracknell said police, Police Rescue, the RFS, paramedics from the NSW Ambulance, the air ambulance and SES were among the emergency crews working at the scene.
There were also two doctors on site monitoring the man, and a representative of Bathurst Regional Council.
Inspector Cracknell also confirmed that WorkCover NSW had been notified and was at the scene yesterday afternoon.
The incident is being investigated by WorkCover.