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

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This footage shows firefighters racing against time to dig up a construction worker who has been buried under several feet of gravel.

The unnamed worker from the county of Yuechi in China’s south-western province of Sichuan had been inspecting a gravel crusher conveyor belt when he accidentally fell in on 27th May.

The local fire service arrived on scene at 6:35 pm local time and were unable to see the workman who was at risk of suffocating to death under the deep mountain of construction material.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire

The seven firefighters on site removed as much rubble as possible while also digging into the gravel to search for the worker.

According to reports, one of the rescuers located the victims hand 90 minutes later. He survived for so long because some air was able to get to him through the gravel stones, although it was still life-threatening because there was also a danger that the gravel dust would get into his lungs, or that the pressure on his chest would make it impossible for him to breathe.

Rescue footage shows firefighters having dug out the worker’s head, allowing him to breathe before continuing to shovel away the gravel with their hands.

In the video, the rescue operation continues into the night, with the victim put in a harness and lifted out of the pit in the gravel crusher chute after an ordeal lasting over two hours.

He was taken to hospital at 8:46 pm and is understood to be in stable condition.