TWO workmen had a brush with death yesterday when a trench collapsed and buried them in soil.
The men were working on drainage for York University's new £25m biosciences building, near Wentworth College, when the trench fell in, between 11.30am and 11.40am.
Emergency service workers fought for almost an hour to rescue the two men, one of whom suffered severe oxygen deprivation.
The first man to be freed was taken from the trench after being trapped for about 30 minutes and was taken to York District Hospital with a shoulder injury.
The second of the trapped workers was released at about 12.20pm and was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital. He suffered from a severe lack of oxygen.
A third worker at the scene was treated for shock.
After the accident, the scene was cordoned off and the Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation.
University spokeswoman Hilary Layton said: "One of the men has some broken bones and we are told the other man is going to be fine. The site has been made safe and the health and safety people have started their investigation."
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