Construction Worker Trapped in Trench in Los Feliz Area

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Firefighters Thursday were working to rescue a construction worker who became trapped in a trench behind a hillside home in the Los Feliz area.

The firefighters were sent to the 2300 block of North Catalina Street about 10:50 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"The adult male worker ... remains conscious and alert, trapped by soil up to a point at or above his waist, in an 8-foot deep trench immediately adjacent to a load-bearing wall of the adjacent hillside residence," the LAFD said in a statement late Thursday morning.

"First arriving firefighters and paramedics have stabilized the trench walls, patient and overall construction site, to allow LAFD responders specially trained and equipped in confined space operations, to swiftly commence the high risk rescue within the trench."

The rescue operation was continuing early Thursday afternoon.