Worker Rescued After 20-Foot Fall at Pump Station

A man is recovering after falling more than 20 feet down a well in Charles County, Md.

The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department was called to a pump station that feeds into a sewage treatment plant after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

They ventilated the hole before sending the first volunteer down. Luckily, there were no toxic gases in the hole to overcome the worker.

"I was relaying information up to ground level about the water level," said Kevin Goad, the first rescuer down the hole. "They were able to get the water level under control. They were able to get it down to ankle deep. By that time it was time to pull me out and send the other rescuer in."

Justin Lucas was the second volunteer to go down in the hole. He strapped the fallen worker into a rescue device, put a helmet on him, instructed him how to guide his way out of the hole and then signaled to the crew on the ground to lift him out of the hole.

The worker -- a Department of Public Works equipment operator -- was pulled to safety, decontaminated as a precaution and flown to an area hospital for observation and to make sure there are no internal injuries.


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