Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

This is the moment firemen risk their lives at the bottom of a partially caved in ditch to free workmen half buried during a construction site cave-in.

The frantic firefighters are seen trying to shore up the sides in the pit as they use spades, shovels and even their hands to free the three buried men.

The trio were left covered in earth and mud when the under-construction sewer project they were working on suddenly collapsed in the city of Shangqiu in Central China’s Henan Province on the morning of 21st October.

They were standing in the pit when it partially collapsed, burying them and pinning them underneath thje mass of earth.

The Shangqiu fire service said one worker’s legs were trapped, while his two colleagues were buried in earth up to their chest.

Rescuers opted against using heavy machinery and decided instead to avoid the risk of further injuring the workers by using handheld tools.

They evacuated the surrounding area for fear of a secondary collapse, and began digging at the workers’ trapped limbs and bodies with their hands.

Rescue footage also shows them using shovels and spades as they race against time to free the injured construction workers.

The authorities said the worker whose legs were buried was freed first, and his two colleagues, who were having trouble breathing, were dug out shortly after.

The trio were evacuated from the work site about 20 minutes after the cave-in.

They were taken to hospital and are not believed to be in any life-threatening condition.

Officials said they were still trying to determine the cause of the collapse.

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