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Trench Collapse Survivor Expected To Make A Full Recovery

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Rescue teams in Aurora had to work quickly and carefully on Tuesday when a man got stuck nearly up to chest in a trench.

The man is an employee with a private pipe company and was working in the trench by a home on the 1400 block of South Oakland Street on Tuesday morning when it collapsed.

Aurora officials told CBS4 on Wednesday they aren't releasing the victim's name.

The trench was 20 foot long, 12 feet deep and 4 feet wide, and the rescue attempt took approximately two hours.

Aurora Fire Department spokeswoman Capt. Diane Lord said the rescuers' "first imperative (was) to create a safe environment for them to rescue him."

They brought fluids down to him using an IV and delivered oxygen while he was stuck. They also were careful not to collapse the trench more.

After pulling the man from the trench he was taken to a hospital. He was expected to make a full recovery.

Neighbors say the house is being put up for sale and that the owners have been doing lots of repair work on the home.

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