FORWARD TWP — A man in his 40s was in stable condition after being rescued from a trench Tuesday morning where he was trapped for almost three hours.

The construction worker working on a site off Marburger Road was trapped waist deep at the bottom of a 10-foot deep ditch about 8:15 a.m., said Steve Bicehouse, Butler County Emergency Services director.

He was dug out by hand, pulled out of the trench on a stretcher and taken to a hospital in a STAT MedEvac helicopter shortly after 11 a.m.

Bicehouse, who also is the chief of the Evans City Volunteer Fire Department, said it took several hours to rescue the man because special trench rescue teams had to secure the area to prevent a secondary collapse.

“Initially we couldn't dig him out until we got the shoring in to prevent a secondary collapse. You have to take your time and be very meticulous,” he said.

During the rescue the man remained “awake and oriented” while paramedics monitored his vital signs, he said.

More than 50 emergency responders from a number of departments helped.

Two trench rescue crews, the Southern Butler County Technical Rescue Team and one from Chippewa Township, Beaver County, were called in and used special equipment to shore up the sides of the trench.

Construction workers also assisted by operating a backhoe and front end loader to help move equipment and shore up the trench.

The cause of the collapse is unknown. However, Bicehouse said that a metal box designed to stabilize trenches was in place, but the man was trapped beneath it.The property is the location for Peachmont Farms, a 94-unit housing development that was approved last year, according to Forward Township supervisors meeting minutes.The properties are owned by America First Enterprises and Peachmont Farms LLC.Officials from the Pittsburgh office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the incident.The investigation could take up to six months, according to Nick Maddamma, assistant OSHA area director.OSHA does not have the authority to halt work at the construction site so the contractor could resume working once the emergency responders left, he said.Agencies that responded to the accident included fire departments from Adams Area, Callery, Evans City, Middlesex Township, Penn Township, Aliquippa, Chippewa Township, and Baden.The Southern Butler County Technical Rescue, Quality EMS, STAT MedEvac, state police and Adams Township Police also were there.