Bridgewater, MA, Firefighters Extricate Man Trapped in Coal Car

Sept. 3, 2024
The Plymouth County Technical Rescue team was called by firefighters to lead the operation.

Firefighters freed a worker who was trapped up to his waist in a train car full of coal at a facility in Bridgewater Tuesday.

While he was trapped the man was able to speak with rescuers and did not appear to be seriously hurt.

"He is in no distress at this time, alert, conscious breathing talking to us the entire time, just unable to remove himself," Bridgewater Deputy Fire Chief Glen Grafton told NBC10.

The victim was working on transporting coal used for making bricks at the Stiles and Hart Brick Company, Inc, where the owner says he's worked for four years.

“We’re terribly sorry it happened. We take care of our employees," owner Lincoln David Andrews said.

Grafton said his department was called to the business on Cook Street around 9:20 a.m. and called in the Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team when they realized the call was beyond the scope of their abilities.

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.