A routine morning on West 170th Street in Washington Heights quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency when a construction worker plunged 30 feet into an open manhole — prompting a rapid and coordinated rescue by New York City first responders.
According to the NYPD, the 35-year-old worker fell shortly before 8:45 a.m. on November 20. The man, who had been working near the site, landed deep inside the underground shaft, triggering a full response from the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) and the FDNY.
Bodycam footage released by the NYPD shows the tense atmosphere as ESU officers secured the scene and prepared for a confined-space rescue. Before lowering an officer and a firefighter into the manhole, responders noticed a dangerous complication — the built-in metal rungs that typically allow access had deteriorated. Someone in the footage warns that the rungs “had rotted away,” making the descent even more hazardous.
The video captures responders strategizing, passing ropes and gear down the narrow chamber while coordinating precise movements. Wearing high-visibility gear, they communicated step-by-step instructions to ensure both the rescuers and the injured worker remained safe.
“You’re alright. He’s alright,” an officer is heard reassuring the team as they finally reached the worker, who had been immobilized on a backboard deep underground.
With careful maneuvering, first responders hoisted the man out of the shaft and brought him to the surface. EMS transported him to New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition, police said. He was later treated and released, according to the New York Daily News.
Photos and video posted by @NYPDNews show the moment the worker was lifted from the darkness, his backboard edging toward daylight as officers and firefighters steadied the ropes.
The NYPD hailed the teamwork behind the rescue, writing on X, “One unexpected drop. One expert rescue,” adding: “When a construction worker fell through a manhole cover, @NYPDSpecialops ESU secured the scene, worked with @FDNY to safely reach him, and get them medical care.”
The incident highlights both the dangers facing construction workers in dense urban environments and the precision required for underground rescue operations. Investigators have not yet released additional details on how the manhole came to be open or the worker fell inside.
Authorities said the rescue demonstrated how quickly first responders must adapt when typical access structures — such as the now-rotted ladder rungs — fail inside aging infrastructure.
The NYPD said the investigation is ongoing.
Originally reported by Independent.
