On Wednesday, Brandon Firefighter Jerry Wivo was called to assist in the trench rescue of a Bay City Department of Public Works employee who was trapped during a repair of an underground utility line. Wivo, an 18 year veteran and member of the North Oakland Technical Rescue Team said he arrived in the early afternoon when the victim was buried up to his neck in sand after the trench he was digging collapsed. About 100 team members were called to assist.
The victim was freed after about five hours in the trench and was taken to an area hospital. Wivo said the victim suffered from ‘crush? injuries and remained conscious during the ordeal. The NOTRT preforms a variety of rescues from trenches, confined space and structural collapses.