SPRING CITY, Tenn. — UPDATE: The search for a worker trapped in a collapsed trench on a new home construction site in Spring City on Saturday came to an end when the worker’s body was recovered around 1 a.m. Sunday.
Rhea County Detective Rocky Potter said the man was dead at that time.
He stated the contractor of the construction of a home had hired a subcontractor to hand dig out the trench to help repair the walls.
Rhea County Sheriff’s Department said it was a two-man ditch job. Because of a language barrier - crews originally believed two men were in the trench, however, it has been confirmed now that it was only one.
Detective Potter said that through a translator the sheriff's office was able to speak with some of the crew and they found the second party that was assigned to that ditch work somewhere else.
This confirmed the location of at least one person that was believed to be inside the trench.
The missing man's body was retrieved around 1 a.m., and Dr. Cassidy, the Rhea County Coroner, pronounced him dead on the scene.
He was transported shortly after 1 a.m. by ambulance to the Rhea County Medical Center. Through the translator, deputies were able to contact family members to get them out there.
Detective Potter said it was around 3:30 a.m. or 4 a.m. when everything was cleaned up and all the crews had left.
The identity of the man has not been released.
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A rescue recovery operation is underway outside of Spring City after a trench collapsed on a new home that was under construction.
Police received a call at approximately 2 p.m. about a trench collapse on a new home that was under construction in the River Myst Community.
Police said construction crews had dug a trench in the interior of the garage 3 feet wide and 10-12 feet deep. They were trying to look at the damage to the exterior wall of the inside when dirt under concrete gave in.
Two males are unaccounted for and are believed to be in the trench.
Police have confirmed there is a rescue recovery operation underway at this time.
Crossfield, Cumberland, Chattanooga, and Knoxville specialty crews are assisting with the rescue.
Crews said it is going to be a hand dig and will go into the night.
This story was originally reported by WRCB.