Rescue crews rushed a construction worker to the hospital after a rush of water from a main rupture trapped him in an underground tunnel in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the near drowning in the area of Southwest 120th Avenue and 220th Street, right off U.S. 1, late Monday night.
According to the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, the victim was performing work on the department’s water system at the time of the water main break.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the water pipe burst at around 10:20 p.m., flooding the tunnel and trapping the worker inside for several minutes.
“Burst pipe, and abrasion and traumatic injuries to the head, and was submerged for approximately four to six minutes, according to police on scene,” said a first responder in radio transmissions.
Detectives said the victim’s co-workers found and removed him and initiated CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive.
Rescue crews took the construction worker to Ryder Trauma Center | Jackson South in critical condition. He was unresponsive during transport.
Back at the scene, deputies cordoned off the scene, as water gushed from the ground right next to an apartment complex under construction.
Someone with knowledge of the situation told 7News that the worker was connecting the water line from the apartment complex to the main water line, something that is usually done at night so as not to disturb the water pressure in the neighborhood. When the pipe broke, the worker was pinned by the pressure.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer officials said the worker is not an employee with the department, adding they are “concerned about their condition and well-being.”
Crews have since capped the rupture. 7News cameras captured the repairs.
Authorities have not provided further details, as they continue to investigate.
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Source: wsvn
