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LEHI — Earlier this week firefighters risked their lives to rescue a man buried alive in a 10-foot-deep trench in Lehi.
Many people get credit for saving Seth Thomas' life. But two men inside the rapidly deteriorating trench ultimately risked it all.
"The trench already came in once. We're down at the bottom of the trench with this guy, and it could happen again," explained Capt. Jake Beck of the Lehi Fire Department.
Beck and firefighter Trevor Dorton know the risks that come with their job. But sometimes even firefighters get worried.
"You definitely get nervous," Dorton said. "There's a lot of things running through your mind."
Beck and Dorton were called to a trench rescue near 2400 North and 910 West in Lehi on Oct. 29. Trapped inside the 10-foot deep hole with his head and neck above the dirt was Whipple Service drain technician Seth Thomas. He had been repairing a sewer line when a saturated wall collapsed and pinned him to the pipe.
"It fell twice," Thomas said. "It caved in and threw me against the wall and caved in again."
"The only thought going through my mind was how painful it was. The next thought was is this next one going to fall on top of me and snap my body," he added.
Thomas, a single dad, said he was in shock and hyperventilating. He began to panic, thinking of his two children ages 7 and 9.
Then Beck and Dorton climbed into the trench and grabbed his hand.
"He just got down there and said, 'You're going to be alright' and held my hand for a minute. That was very calming too," Thomas said.
Beck said, "We assured him that, 'We're getting you out, we're going to pull you out. It's going to take some time and hard work but we're going to get you out.'"
Beck and Dorton carefully started digging, handing buckets of dirt to fellow rescuers above. At one point, both realizing the danger they were all facing.
"We both kind of looked at each other without even saying anything," Beck said. "I knew what he was thinking and I think he knew what I was thinking. As we were looking around I thought, man this could be a pretty bad situation."
Thomas said, "There was a point where I said a prayer and basically prayed to my higher power and asked him please let me see my kids tonight."
After 90 minutes Thomas was pulled to safety, loaded onto a stretcher, and embraced by his fellow employees.
He was then flown to Utah Valley Regional Hospital.
"They're heroes," he said. "Every day we pass fire stations and see trucks out on the road. We don't realize that those guys in those trucks and buildings are out there to save lives and make sure we do get home to our families."
Thomas returned to his family that same day.
"My little boy saw me in crutches and started crying," Thomas said. "He was just real emotional. I told him, 'It's OK, everything is fine. I'm alive.' "
Thomas is recovering from a fractured pelvis and a knee injury, but he said he's grateful to the firefighters who saved his life and hopes to tell them in person one day.
"If I could just have them all over, I'd give them a hug and say thanks and how thankful I am for them being there and helping me out," he said.
Beck said, "I think I've been on six to seven trench rescues and they don't turn out as well as that one did. It was extraordinary."
Beck and Dorton said they don't deserve attention for their actions because the rescue was a team effort.
