Man still in hospital as we learn more about building collapse

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A 24-year-old man remained in a hospital Thursday, a day after a building collapsed on him, trapping him under rubble in a nearly two-hour ordeal that brought dozens of rescuers to the scene.

His injuries aren’t life-threatening, confirming a happy ending to what could have been a tragic accident.

Police on Thursday released an incident report that shed more light on what happened in the 200 block of Vancouver Road just off Edgefield Road.

The collapse occurred around 1:49 p.m. Wednesday as an old pool house was being torn down, and the man was one of the demolition crew .

The building unexpectedly collapsed as the crew was preparing the exterior for demolition, the North Augusta Department of Public Safety reported.

Three crew ran away from the building, but one panicked and ran to the center of it, according to officers.

First responders were immediately called, and they were in with the victim, who was conscious but unable to move because debris had pinned his shoulder.

PHOTO GALLERY: BUILDING COLLAPSE

At least 30 rescuers came to the scene from North Augusta, Merriwether, Aiken County, Belvedere, Richmond County and the Savannah River Site.

Crews continued to arrive with sirens blaring nearly 50 minutes after the collapse.

The rescue scene was mostly quiet, even as neighbors gathered around to see what was going on. Rescuers asked them to stay quiet so they could maintain communications with the trapped man.

One group of onlookers formed a small circle and held hands nearby to pray.

Rescuers used pieces of wood, inflatable air bags and other equipment to try to lift up the rubble and relieve the pressure on the man.

A “Jaws of Life” extrication device was also brought in, with an orange body board ready nearby.

Around 3:20 p.m., apparent oxygen tanks were rolled onto the scene.

And then minutes later, it was all over as part of a team effort.

Onlookers broke their silence with applause before he was whisked onto a stretcher and placed in a nearby ambulance that was taking him to a helicopter landing site. From there, he was sent to Wellstar MCG hospital in Augusta.

APPLAUSE BREAKS OUT AFTER RESCUE

The North Augusta Department of Public Safety was thankful for the help offered by rescuers across the region.

“We couldn’t have done it without all of them,” Lt. Allen C. Swann said.

“It’s amazing. You know, we’re all here for the same purpose. We all work together when we need to, and as you can see from the amount of trucks and people that are here, people don’t hesitate to come help you.”

A successful rescue is hard to beat.

“Well, the best feeling in the world,” Swann said.

“So we train for it and you know, pray it never happens. But when it does, we’ve got to be ready.”

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