JACKSON TWP — A man suffered a crushing injury this morning when an excavator he was bringing out of a basement fell and trapped his leg underneath it.

Harmony Fire District and EMS responded at around 8 a.m. to Edward Lane in Jackson Township where the incident occurred.

“His right leg was trapped under the knee,” said Scott Garing, Harmony Fire District Chief. “He has been flown to a local trauma center.”

Responders arrived on the scene and found the man conscious and pinned under the machinery.

But it wasn’t as easy as simply pulling the man out.

“It could be life threatening,” said Garing. “Absolutely, it’s called crush syndrome.”

Crush syndrome can occur when a part of the body is crushed, resulting in a buildup of acid. This can lead to renal failure and death, which is why it is important to have trained physicians on scene before the extrication.

“EMS treated him at the scene before we extricated him,” said Garing.

After he was treated, fire fighters worked to lift the excavator and extract the man, who was then airlifted to a hospital for further treatment.

The extraction was difficult, as firefighters had to lift the machine quickly without causing further harm to the man trapped beneath, but Garing said it went well and credited the firefighters with maintaining their skills for just such situations as this.

“The machine was awkward to lift, but with training and education we were able to lift it,” said Garing.