Worker trapped for hours underground in mud at NYC construction site freed

NEW YORK Rescuers freed a construction worker who was trapped up to his chest in mud and debris 75 feet below ground at the Second Avenue subway line construction site in upper Manhattan, reports CBS New York station WCBS-TV.

It took four hours until her was rescued early Wednesday.

He was on a stretcher when a crane pulled him up alongside two rescue workers.

An ambulance was on the scene to take the worker to a hospital. He was said to be stable and talking.

Firefighters were prepared to hose and wash him down. It wasn't clear what kind of contaminants might be in the mud.

Fire officials say more than 150 firefighters responded to the scene as the drama unfolded.

Three firefighters suffered non-life threatening injuries during the rescue operation. A Consolidated Edison vacuum truck was sent to scene to help remove debris.

It happened at around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In September, a controlled blast at the Second Avenue construction site sent rocks flying into the streets when steel plates covering the blast failed.