Firefighters free man trapped at excavation site

LEDGEVIEW — Rescuers freed a man who was trapped for 90 minutes at an excavation site Wednesday afternoon.

The Eagle III rescue helicopter raced the man to a hospital after the incident, which occurred about 2:05 p.m. on a work site near 4100 Dickinson Road. The man appeared conscious as firefighters rushed him to the helicopter on a gurney.

The man was operating an eight-wheeled tractor that flipped onto its roof. Authorities initially reported that he was using excavating equipment. He did not lose consciousness during the rescue.

A heavy-duty wrecker was able to lift the vehicle so the man could be extricated, according to Bellevue fire officials who were at the scene. Firefighters were concerned about the stability of the ground during the rescue. Anxious family members watched from nearby as the man was removed.

A manure pit or retention pond was being constructed at the scene, Bellevue Fire Chief Brad Muller said.

Firefighters responded from De Pere, Bellevue, Ledgeview and Ashwaubenon. The Green Bay Metro Fire Department's Technical Rescue unit also was summoned.

One De Pere firefighter was taken by ambulance to a Green Bay hospital with a minor injury.

— dschneid@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider.