LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While a construction worker waited as first responders dug him out of a hole on Thursday, another man waited near the construction site to make sure he made it out.
The construction worker was rescued at 8:26 p.m. after being completely buried by rubble on Thursday.
It was a nearly nine hour long rescue at the former Community Correctional Center, but is now an active demolition site for the new Louisville medical complex.
And Ti'ant Wyatt watched from the top floor of a nearby parking garage.
"I've been out here for five hours, on this rooftop for five hours," he said "But he's been in debris. Trapped and collapsed for more than that."
Praying for hours, he said, for a safe rescue. He described the long rescue as "suspenseful" and a "waiting game."
"Forms a sense of unity for me in the community of Louisville when we all come together for this person," Wyatt said. "And when this person comes out, I'll leave."
Louisville Fire crews arrived to the scene at East Chestnut Street to rescue the construction worker, who had become trapped after falling several feet underground.
Louisville's Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said the worker did end up having some space around him to breathe while being surrounded by gravel, dirt and concrete.
"For me to be here and send as many prayers as I can and hope for his safety, this is the least that I feel like I can do," Wyatt said. "I don't know this person but I hope and pray that this person will be okay."
Watching from the sidelines, Wyatt has questions that are still unanswered.
"Now I just feel really emotional with a little bit of anger," he said. "Why did this happen to this individual? He's stuck down there, and I know myself, I'm claustrophobic and I would be freaking out."
O'Neill said this was a unique case.
"We've seen a lot of trench rescues over the last 24 years that I've been doing this," O'Neill said. "I've never seen anything like this."
O'Neill said the outcome is a "tempered celebration" -- both a tragedy, and a success. He described that moment.
"Once he got out, it was just a quick nod and a little fist bump around the pile there -- knowing 'hey, we got one,'" O'Neill said.
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