Metro

Bravest spring trapped subway worker

Firefighters rescued a worker at the Second Avenue Subway construction site early this morning after he became lodged in “cement-like” mud for nearly four hours on the Upper East Side, an FDNY source said.

More than 140 firefighters responded and three were injured in the rescue attempt after the worker became stuck in the thick muck 75 feet beneath East 95th Street at about 8:30 p.m. He was waist-deep in the mud for hours before he could be safely lifted to the surface.

The worker was suffering from hypothermia when responders pulled him out at 12:28 a.m. and took him to Cornell Medical Center.

A fire official on the scene said the worker was underground when his leg became stuck in the slurry, a moist mixture of cement and mud, and pulled him in.

Rescuers used a machine to spray water on the earth around him to soften it up but it didn’t work. They then tried to use plywood. but it became stuck in the muck as well.

“The slurry water and soil mixture acted like quicksand,” said Fire Chief Donald Hayde.

“We were concerned that the water would rise and cover his face.”

They secured him with a strong rope and were finally able to pull him out after digging with their hands.

A law-enforcement source said the man was pouring cement when his leg got stuck.

Firefighters were digging with their hands and employing vacuum trucks, an FDNY source said.

“They have to do it safely so there’s no issues,” the source said.

“It’s a slow, painstaking process.”

The worker was secured with a strong rope at about 9:30 p.m. but could not be extracted from the muck until after midnight.

A crane was lowered into the hole and was finally able to extract him.<

Emergency rescue services use a lift to rescue the trapped worker.

Emergency rescue services use a lift to rescue the trapped worker. (Byron Smith)

A clerk at a nearby deli saw pedestrians gathered on the sidewalk after the scene began to unfold underground.

“They were all here trying to get him out,” said deli worker Ketut Bagranta. “He’s stuck.”

The MTA said the victim works for a private company contracted to help with the massive subway project.