COPY-Worker Pinned Under Concrete, Rescued At Rogers County Courthouse

A rescue effort on Thursday afternoon freed a construction worker who was trapped under a slab of concrete in a hole near the Rogers County Courthouse.

The man was working about 8 to 10 feet underground in a concrete drainage ditch when the slab fell on him and pinned him from chest down. The concrete is 4 foot by 5 foot and about 6 inches thick.

Emergency crews intended to use inflatable bags to lift the concrete, but space didn't allow it, the fire chief said. They used the Jaws of Life to free up enough space to pull him out.

"He was in significant pain and just wanted out. We tried to explain to him it would take some time in order to do it safely, and naturally he wanted out immediately," said Marty Osborne with the Claremore Fire Department.

A medical helicopter tried to land on scene about 12:30 p.m. to transport the worker to a hospital, but high winds caused problems with the landing at the site. After another attempt, the helicopter was able to land in on Highway 66/Lynn Riggs Boulevard a few minutes later.

The worker's condition is unknown at this time.

The old courthouse was demolished last fall, and crews have been doing construction in the area for some time.