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

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This footage shows rescuers racing against time to save a workman buried up to his neck in sand and rocks after falling into a pit of gravel at a depot where he works.

The unnamed worker from the town of Jichuan, which is in Nanchong City in south-western China’s Sichuan Province, is believed to have been working on the edge of the gravel pit when a rockslide sent him tumbling in.

Video of the rescue on 15th November shows the lone worker having been buried up to his chest in sand and rocks while surrounded by gravel in the middle of the pit, which forms part of a large metal funnel.

The fire service said the workman was found with only his head exposed, and the victim was given a tube of oxygen in order to breathe.

The worker was at risk of suffocating to death as he struggled to breathe while being crushed inside the travel pit.

Footage shows rescuers digging away at the gravel using spades, an excavator and even their bare hands.

The authorities said he was finally lifted out after more than an hour, after which he was put on a stretcher and taken to hospital for treatment.

The worker suffered no life-threatening injuries and has since been discharged.

According to the fire service, an operating error at the depot led to the worker falling into the pit.

An investigation is believed to be ongoing.

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