Boston Trench Tragedy: One man's never-ending nightmare

[@FFEMTB08]

Bless his heart. I’m glad he’s talking to someone. Getting help after seeing something is the best thing in the world, it’s not a sign a weakness. He’s a hero for trying to save them.

[@ScoobyDoozy]

I can’t imagine the PTSD this man carries still five years on. You nearly died in the most heroic of efforts to try to save these two men from a hopeless situation, which was created way before yourself and those two men arrived there- this was a total breakdown in so many different areas, none of which had anything to do with the two men and yourself. You were the three victims at the end of a very long road. I pray that five years on, you have been able to lift some of the survivors guilt, and find a joy and lightness in your life again- you deserve it, and the men would wish that for you also x

[@chriscamgemi368]

Ooo really ,,then you must really have the understanding of what a veteran must go through on the daily ..

[@wandadipaolo357]

I got ptsd from this and I still deal with it. I should’ve never watched it over and over because it’s changed to me.

[@wandadipaolo357]

ThNk you for trying to help. This is Wanda Robs friend

[@bul166]

Bless you brother. Your response was selfless & noble. We need more like ya.

[@justme8340]

I have friends who survived the high pressure steam burst at the Salem power station. Their lives have never been the same. Bless you sir. We’re only human.

[@wandadipaolo357]

We’re only human.I have you in prayer.

[@wandadipaolo357]

Rob spirit always with me.

[@bobl6139]

Hirise window cleaner here ,35 years every accident I see in the media deeply upsets me. I remember this vividly,stay strong brother you didn’t panic ,stayed on the scene risked your life .

[@wandadipaolo357]

I will never get over this He was the love of my life. He has no training. Our lives will never be the same

[@chriscamgemi368]

I know it’s been awhile & no time will ever pass for your loss.. My condolences to you & your family. USMC Msgt 373 Simmon 8

[@mariomartinez1493]

I feel your pain lost 2 coworkers in Glendale az 4 months ago trench give way and buried them alive see them lifeless is hard

[@christylynn451]

Why the hell wasn’t it shored??

[@themenace9691]

@@christylynn451facts in Florida once you did 4ft with type c soil needs to be shored immediately

[@seangobbell7821]

What a solid guy. I wish the absolute best for him

[@suzieq8379]

God Bless you That happened here to my friends husband only it was dirt not water very sad

[@srf2112]

Trauma is the most insidious injury you can suffer. It not only may never heal but can get more severe over time. This poor man is suffering the worst type of pain .. helpless.

[@bustinnutsinslutsbutts]

That's so true. It can ebb and flow too

[@raymondpetrovits2336]

I’ve worked on a crew that did high pressure water mains. We would regularly tap into live 8-10” pipe with 100 psi. A wrong move or a weakened or cracked pipe would fill a trench in a minute. There are some things in life you just can’t un-see. This guy is in that category. RIP.

[@Slavicplayer251]

in those situations can you float on the water or is it too agitated or does the flow push you against the sides of the trench?

[@QueenSunstar]

@@Slavicplayer251It swirls you around pretty fast. Your body gets slammed around. You lose consciousness and that’s it. The trick is to dive to the bottom then swim away by pulling yourself along the bottom. The problem is that most people will panic and fight to surface.

[@Slavicplayer251]

@ ok good to know go along the bottom and follow up the wall?

[@QueenSunstar]

@ Correct. Do wait until you are in calmer water first.

[@Slavicplayer251]

@ ok

[@pw6498]

You're a he'll of a great man for trying !! Many prayers to the families, and to you as well, hopefully you can sleep, and be rested. I completely understand the never ending freight trains of thoughts, but some times we can't save the world, ppl, friends or family. Stay positive as you can !! You tried as best as you could. I hope that that you have found peace within. Stay strong. Wishing you the best.

[@FurryWrecker911]

Is there an uncut version of this? I feel like there's so much context missing in this snippet.

[@alexrivera7598]

Something very similar almost happened to me. I got out a hole and not even a min later the city pipe busted.

[@steveregal6321]

Bless your heart brother. I worked for Atlantic for 2 years. Chucky was a great man I’m thankful for everything he did for me while I was there. I never knew Robbie but I’m sure he was a great man as well. Chucky had his operators license was older and had adopted his grand daughters he had no business being in that hole he should of been in the machine. Such a shame.

[@Willthethrill478]

Rob was a good man. Grew up with him, such a tragedy

[@NismoS13240sx1]

I worked there for couple months with Chuckie Frankie Bobby and a couple other guys

[@ukw-uknowho6657]

Bless this man

[@mikepalmer1971]

God I hate hearing stories like this. People just going to work and earn a living and they die. I hate it.

[@gregorypeck876]

Brother being close by and trying your best is all you could of ever done, survivors guilt and the trauma that comes with it is a waking nightmare from my personal experience it’s not about getting easier, it’s about learning to live with it, your not alone ❤

[@juniormanutai8099]

GODBLESS YOU BROTHER ☝️🙏🙌🕊❤

[@AlfredCerwensky]

I was working in D.C. about 30 years ago at a small masonry job. The plumbers had just made a connection and were getting ready to backfill the trench. As the backhoe started up the plumber's laborer noticed a wrench in the hole. He jumped down to retrieve it when the trench started to collapse pinning his legs and his boss jumps in after him grabbing his shoulders. The other workers scrambling to do what they could but it was too late for the laborer... this was the first workplace death i witnessed and unfortunately not the last...

[@ARKEYmax]

A true hero. Thanks for sharing your story. I aspire to have your level of bravery

[@jongggrowss4202]

High tension wire workers and dealing with something like this I am all set I give these guys a lot of credit they do a job I know I couldn’t do and I say thank you

[@iamthepapi6251]

Yeah there are some men in this world who do some crazy jobs that I would never even fathom.

[@anna3036]

I wish there was more information at the start. Who he was, why he was there, who were the people he was trying to save. Very confusing. Googled it, amazing story and powerful video. Just wish it had the info at the start.

[@JM-zk9ou]

I hope that this man is getting EMDR therapy. It is so helpful in separating the emotional/physiological response to memories of traumatic events.

[@ruthlessRod1000]

Sorry bro, that's so tragic.

[@LionLikeJudah1]

I'm sorry bro. I'm a Shoring inspector. this is an absolute nightmare

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

stop bragging about yourself and have a bit of respect. Don't use other people's tragic demise to brag about what you do. Thats low

[@LionLikeJudah1]

@AwesomeAngryBiker it's not a brag. It's a professional acknowledgement. And it's a nightmare of mine. sorry this bothered you. Jah bless

[@antoniobranderas]

@@AwesomeAngryBiker Drop the “awesome” from your username. That’s all you are…angry biker

[@shzykh]

@@AwesomeAngryBiker damn bro. it's called sympathy.

[@thomashanlon1259]

I'm in the business so it really hits home.

[@darkcat5649]

Im a core driller and ive flat out refused to do work in un shored or inboxed trenches i just wont go in if the trench doesn’t have a grade to the walls

[@popstar7448]

Bless you brothers

[@PowerOfOne-u4h]

Know they are in heaven now. Bless you for your heart felt compassion and trying to save them. May you and their family find peace and rest in this very tough time.

[@Rumouruk]

Heaven? That implies God! What kind of God allows this to happen? What kind of God allows mass shootings? What kind of God lets kids suffer cancer?

[@dahinsoncoj]

Unless he was the owner, supervisor, competent person the worst part, he carries the burden of two co-workers tragic, but preventable deaths. OSHA as much as it is maligned, was stood up for a reason. From a fire/rescue agency with a FEMA certified USAR Level I team, with trench rescue capabilities is just one of the specialized training (an most dangerous) it does save lives when standards are followed. The problem usually is attributable to the cost and training that workers must have to stay safe. With the influx of workers to the south, incidents of this type are on the rise. Sad yes, preventable, absolutely.

[@atrocious_pr0xy]

I hope he doesn't fall into substance abuse from this. If once can fight through it, they'll see that time does heal.. but we do have to endure horrible pains.. and sometimes the instance isn't an instance. The pain is still growing and we've not made it to the point of healing .. but time and dedication prove effective

[@giglefest]

Good man for doing what he could. Sad

[@tinderbox218]

I don't know the backstory. Were workers in a utility tunnel that suddenly flooded with water?

[@krashd]

They were in a trench connected to a utility tunnel when a 22" water line burst in the trench and the torrent of water sent both men down the tunnel, which then flooded to the ceiling. They were basically dragged under ground by the flow of water.

[@tinderbox218]

@@krashd Thank you. How awful 😢

[@Jason-bs2wc]

Man i work heavy construction. Them guy become family after working together awhile its like loosing family im sorry for your loss man

[@hsheeld]

I lived at #26 when this happened, the block just before this corner. it was so fucked up.

[@DrSmackAttack]

Would I have permission to use any portion of this footage in a construction safety video I am creating to sell and distribute? Thank you for your time!

[@sic-n-tiredtired4273]

Absolutely heartbreaking. You did everyone you could.

[@ericjacobsen3912]

My heart goes out to this poor man, things happen, none of us have a crystal ball.

[@johnbrowning7623]

I am so sorry for the two victims and their families. I am even more sorry for Steven Smith. Those two victims are at peace at least. Poor Steven might not be for the rest of his life. I wish him well and am inspired by his heroism.

[@jonathanpeterson1984]

I really hope hes ok today.❤🙏🏼💪🏼

[@TheFroggyDragon]

Wow just wow :(

[@kiritimatiswan1986]

I would have done the same if were you under. You did everything you could to save those men.

[@jacobb7890]

Everybody hates OSHA until stuff like this happens…

[@verlinswarey507]

No,we still hate OSHA!

[@Vid_Master]

"what could I have done better, or more?" Nothing. You did everything you could in the moment and risked you life to try to save them, no matter what you did that day the result would've been the same, and thats ok

[@chuckgates1171]

2009 a city water pipe busted next to where I was living and the creek next to it was like a river

[@AW-yv9sq]

Was he even working it or just walking by?

[@Rumouruk]

Did you not watch the video?

[@AW-yv9sq]

@@Rumouruknope

[@zen4men]

Steven- - you were right in there, ========================= when most just watched. =================== You did all you could. Stand tall. Sending you a Zen-Hug from Sussex, England /

[@samuelstoner5651]

I feel so bad for this guy. Such a horrible experience probably changed his whole outlook. Maybe, eventually, the change proved to be useful. Life can be brutal.

[@Cowboy684]

Whole city needs to be condemned. The infrastructure is outdated, failing, and way over burdened.

[@shaneross7428]

I'm sorry to see him have to take medication to cope

[@Dhhsiisgtafevdnjfiff]

Fire dept was there before this guy and let him climb into a flooded trench and then let him try to pull plates?

[@Rumouruk]

No, he was there as people were looking into the hole. The reference to 15 minutes, was the time that this guy was there, but it seemed like 5 minutes.. That's how I read it...

[@Storked]

This is why you should control (lower the pressure) of a water main before digging around it.

[@xjackdareaperx]

That's not how that works

[@stevenwilliams1423]

bless you brother.

[@christylynn451]

Hero and angel 😇

[@WoodstockG54]

🙏🏼

[@trishawilcox5078]

maybe we see some justice nov 3 9:30am argument scheduled or they dismiss it

[@pimplepickerton]

So what happened?

[@peka__]

Real human being...

[@offmeds2nite]

they neglected delta P :(

[@TrueReal-de6ee]

J.C. 😢

[@GK2700ST]

That was his fault for not putting a trench metal basket that can prevent ditch collapses and they are OSHA approved and can help save lives but this greedy contractors dont want to waste no money on a trench basket since they are expensive but they can save lifes and if someone dies they will get sued and have to pay the family of the deceased

[@SM-uj1ep]

Construction workers. Is it worth it? Work safely and plan your safety strategy before commencing works. Even at a minimum harness and manual pulley system (doesn’t cost a lot) could have pulled them out and they would still been here today. Think ahead, think safe

[@iancoachwerksllc]

I also say, if it dont look right, say no and quit or leave. Its not worth the ego or paycheck. No one is being forced to get in the trench. You have to realize your option to save your own life. Friend was explaining how he "had to" run a jack hammer in an unshored trench, and how scary it was. I was thinking, your a dumbass to listen to a cheap ass contractor and risk your life for the company

[@ltwig476]

Well that is not how things get done. As a retired construction worker we tried to be safe most all of the time. We take chances here and there. If we didn't, you would be living in a whole different world without a lot. I have witnessed many being hurt by the very safety gear that was supposed to protect them, myself included. I agree, if it looks too dangerous, don't do it. I walked away many times.

[@ifeelbetterabouthis.louis3]

Crraaazzzzy wooooo crraaazzzzy

[@chriscamgemi368]

Aloha brother,the best advise I can say is that your efforts will NEVER go away ,your commitment to at least try against all odds is amazing & forever going forward,you should be very PROUD of your self ,you have something special in you that only a few privileged human worrier’s have in them in the most dire of circumstances that life presents us and you sure are good man. USMC Msgt 373 Simmon 8

[@jamesrobertarchbald6357]

its amazing to think i talk normal just on the other side of the state

[@RunDMS]

Thank God for all the brave men and zero women who showed up that day.

[@Rumouruk]

What the f*ck are you talking about?

[@aaronjennings8385]

He needs to explain to them that they are deceased. When death happens without warning, the souls can be confused and frustrated. It's best to explain their passing to them before going to sleep.

[@dieselphiend]

"What are men good for"- I've been hearing that a lot, lately.

[@stomil]

Any feminists worked in that trench?

[@andrewc1036]

Wow politics during the tragic interview

[@goodbonezz1289]

@@andrewc1036unfortunately it’s the politics of feminism, DEI, etc that cost untold lives every year.

[@Rumouruk]

@@goodbonezz1289 What has your daft theory to do with this event?

[@Skodak96]

If it looks unsafe walk away. Call osha and find a crew that calues you.

[@robertjordan3155]

Boston is Grotesque