MILFORD, Conn. (AP) -- For eight hours, Robert Fitch lay buried alive in the cab of a crane under 6 feet of twisted steel after a construction accident killed two of his co-workers.
Workers and rescue crews painstakingly used welding torches, hydraulic tools and even hand saws to try to free the man they called "Bobby." They held their breath against the chance that their work could upset the heap of metal and bury him even deeper.One of Fitch's sons stayed by his side throughout the ordeal, as the temperatures dropped into the low 20s and darkness fell. He was given intravenous blood and plasma and blankets to keep him warm.
When the last piece of steel was removed and Fitch was freed Wednesday night, his survival was hailed as a miracle. "This was a tremendous rescue today, for him to come alive out of that vehicle," said Fire Chief Louis LaVecchia.
Fitch, 62, of North Branford, suffered injuries to both legs and had hypothermia. He was listed in critical but stable condition Thursday.
Killed in the accident were Kevin Winslow, 43, of Newington, and Wayne Most, 38, of West Hartford, both boilermakers on the construction job. Another worker, George Scrivner, 36, of East Haddam, was treated for minor injuries.
The cause of the collapse wasn't known. Inspectors from the state and the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration were touring the site Thursday.
The accident happened at about 10:30 a.m., when an 80-foot arch that was meant to house a boiling unit for a new gas-fired power plant toppled over onto Fitch's crane.
The impact snapped off the arm of the crane, which landed in a heap on top of the pile of steel. Fitch, the crane operator, was trapped in the cab, with steel pinning his legs and chest.
"The building has collapsed on top of the crane, and the crane is on top of the building," said Fire Capt. Robin Tummins. "It's almost like pickup sticks."
Some workers were ordered home for the day, while others stayed at the site to aid rescue efforts.