One man is now safe after spending nearly 25 minutes trapped in frigid temperatures and water up to his chest from falling into a ditch near a construction site Sunday on 647 Latta Road.
The man was driving when he allegedly turned onto a construction site, which he believed to be an access road, when he fell into a 5-foot deep hole at the site and was trapped, said North Greece fire Capt. Gregg Knapp. The hole was filled with water up to the male's shoulders, with no way of getting out.
Knapp said the man was stuck there for about 15 or 20 minutes before a few construction workers on the site heard his calls for help, and called 911.
Ten minutes later, North Greece firefighters responded, cut through a fence, and were able to rescue him safely within minutes. The victim was treated for hypthothermia, and transported to a local hospital, with no life threatening injuries.
Knapp said the timing was crucial. Just a few minutes more could have led to serious complications in freezing temperatures.
"It wouldn't have taken much longer to have real symptoms of hypothermia," said Knapp. "It was very fortunate that the department of public works was there."
