Construction worker stuck in mud in NYC subway: 'Nightmare' 4-hour rescue

A construction worker who was stuck in the mud for almost four hours on Tuesday night at the Second Avenue subway project site was finally freed. The man became stuck in this tunnel, which is about 75 feet below street level, as numerous attempts made by the fire fighters to free the man failed, according to NBC News 4 New York on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

The worker became stuck in the mud up to his waist at about 8:30 p.m. last night and it wasn't until 12:30 a.m until the firefighters were able to rescue him. Vacuum systems, pulleys and plywood were used in the rescue. The man was first secured by ropes to guard against him sinking anymore than he already had.

A doctor was on site and gave the unidentified construction worker medication to keep him calm during the rescue attempt. According to the New York Times on Wednesday, the man was stuck in what was described as “muck” from the waist down inside a deep trench. A special vacuum system was used in his rescue reports "Fox and Friends:" live on Wednesday, it was used to pull him out of the mud.

One firefighter who had been in the hole for about a half hour helping with the rescue attempt described it as a “nightmare.” Along with a doctor, a Chaplin was also by the side of the stuck construction worker.

Firefighters said that somehow the worker got his foot lodged in the frame used in construction and started to sink into the mud. The firefighters going into the hole were all secured to ropes, as they too were getting stuck in the soft mud on the tunnel floor.

A basket was used to finally extract the worker out of the hole. He was taken to the hospital where he is listed in “stable” condidtion today. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries in this rescue and one firefighter was seriously injured, officials report.