ALLENTOWN, Pa.— The man who was stuck in a collapsed construction trench for more than eight hours last week is home from the hospital and nursing injuries.
Jason Hansell, 27, who Monday answered the door at his Emmaus home, declined to be interviewed, but expressed gratitude to all who are cheering him on.
His face was bruised, and he had visible damage to his teeth and lips, but still managed to express a warm smile.
- A man who was trapped in a collapsed construction trench in Allentown for more than eight hours last week has been released from the hospital
- Jason Hansell has severe injuries, including bruised vertebrae, a dislocated jaw and broken teeth
- OSHA continues to investigate the incident
In the incident, just before 2 p.m. last Wednesday, the trench in which Hansell and another man were working near 15th and Gordon streets in Allentown collapsed. Firefighters quickly rescued the other man with a ladder, but Hansell remained trapped — covered in dirt up to about his chin.
After more than eight hours of work, rescue crews at 10:15 p.m. pulled him out to applause from a group of bystanders.
He was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where he spent more than four days.
Injuries and events
Though Hansell and his wife, Ivy, declined to be interviewed, new details are revealed in public documents and a GoFundMe page started by Ivy Hansell. That page had raised more than $13,000 as of Monday night.
Jason Hansell's injuries are "extensive," Ivy Hansell wrote on the GoFundMe page.
"We think we've ruled out fractured vertebrae in his neck, though they are injured, and he has many broken teeth, as well as a dislocated jaw," she wrote.
"After jaw surgery, he will need 6 weeks of recovery eating soft and liquid food only. He's also undergoing kidney function tests."
According to the same page, Jason was buried "with only his hard hat sticking out" and his coworker had to dig his face out of the ground before emergency crews arrived.
There are no further details on the events that transpired to cause the incident.
OSHA has said it is investigating the company that Jason was working for at the time, Ed Simon Contracting LLC. In 2016, was found to have three "serious violations" related to trench excavation hazards.
"OSHA’s investigation of the trench collapse this week in Allentown, PA, remains ongoing. There are no new details at this time," the agency said in an email Friday.
New details
In an update posted to the GoFundMe page Monday, Ivy Hansell wrote, "Very happy to finally be cozy at home together! God is so good! We are very thankful for all of the support and encouragement we have received. Hopefully now Jason will be able to get more rest."
"Very happy to finally be cozy at home together! God is so good! We are very thankful for all of the support and encouragement we have received. Hopefully now Jason will be able to get more rest."Ivy Hansell, Jason's wife, as written in an update to the GoFundMe page for his medical costs.
Also on the GoFundMe page, Ivy Hansell confirmed she is pregnant with the couple's first child.
"I found out yesterday, of all days, that I was unexpectedly pregnant with our first child," she wrote the day after the rescue. "Someone must have overheard me encouraging Jason with this news as he was finally about to be rescued and free, and released it to the news world."
She added that the fundraising effort is partially being done with the baby in mind.
"While this isn’t how we would’ve planned to tell the world of our pregnancy blessing, we’re comfortable being open now, and our dear baby is a driving factor behind this fundraising," she wrote.
Faith
The Hansells appear to be practicing Presbyterians. On the GoFundMe page, Ivy Hansell wrote, "I would also like to publicly thank our wonderful church, Lehigh Valley Presbyterian for their incredible support. We appreciate it so much."
There also is a publicly listed video of their wedding, held at the Westminster Presbyterian church in Lancaster. According to Ivy Hansell's Facebook page, she grew up in Landisville, an unincorporated community in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, which is a 12-minute drive to that church.
Ivy Hansell says on her Facebook page that they regularly attend the Lehigh Valley Presbyterian Church in Allentown.
That church's head pastor, the Rev. Matt Franchetti, was on site while crews were rescuing Jason Hansell from the trench. He wore a plaid flannel shirt and an Irish flat cap, periodically making trips to the operation's warming tent to help hand out water and supplies to those at the top of the hole.
LehighValleyNews.com called the church multiple times Monday, and attempted to visit, but received no response.
