Trapped worker rescued from Paulding County rock quarry expected to recover

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - A rescue operation took place early Tuesday afternoon at a rock quarry near Buchanan Highway and Billy Bullock Road in Dallas, which is located in Paulding County.

Firefighters from Paulding and Cobb counties responded to the quarry at around 9:40 a.m. after receiving a report that someone was trapped. 

Rescue workers spent a significant amount of time extracting the worker from a hole. 

According to a spokesperson for Paulding County Fire Department, the employee was trying to remove something that was stuck in a hopper when gravel fell on top of him and trapped the lower half of his body.

Rescue workers were trying to free the worker when there was a secondary collapse and the rescue crews could no longer see the man.

They worked quickly to remove the sand with a vacuum and were able to reestablish contact. At that point, the worker was buried up to his neck.

After five hours of work, firefighters were able to get the man out from under the tons of gravel. While he was injured, he was still conscious and alert.

"He wanted to get out of there," according to firefighter Parker Lee. "At one point I told him, ‘You’re going to see your family for Christmas.’"

The 30-year-old worker, who has not been identified, was flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital. He is currently in stable condition and is expected to recover. 

"Thanks to a tremendous collaboration by both fire departments, EMS assistance from Metro EMS & AirLife, City of Dallas Public Works (who supplied a vacuum truck), and Paulding County DOT, this patient will enjoy Christmas with his family," the Paulding County Fire Rescue wrote on Facebook.  "Outstanding work by all!"

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