Seattle firefighters rescue worker pinned on conveyer belt

SEATTLE — Seattle firefighters were called to the Ballard area to rescue a worker who was pinned on an elevated conveyor belt Thursday.

The fire department first tweeted about the rescue at Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel, in the 5200 block of Shilshole Avenue Northwest, at 8:42 a.m.

David Cuerpo, public information officer with the Seattle Fire Department, said a construction worker was stuck under a metal plate on the conveyer belt.

The worker was stuck about 45 feet above the ground, according to Cuerpo.

“When our crews arrived on scene, they requested additional resources to have a Rescue One company bring here specialized equipment to cut through a metal plate that was pinning down the construction worker,” Cuerpo said.

It’s unclear how heavy the metal plate was.

It’s also unclear how the construction worker got stuck on the conveyer belt, according to Cuerpo.

Firefighters were able to safely free the victim from the machinery after about 45 minutes.

The man was evaluated by medics and then taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.

The injuries are only described as serious, although Cuerpo said the worker was able “to safely walk down the conveyer belt” to first responders on the ground.

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