RADFORD - Radford Fire Chief Lee Simpkins says 38-year-old Rex Matney was killed Saturday after a trench he was digging collapsed on him.
Simpkins says the fire department received a call around 4:56 p.m.
When crews arrived they found Matney under the dirt in a 7.5 ft. to 8.5 ft. trench at Central United Methodist Church.
He says crews could see Matney's hand sticking out of the dirt and determined he had no pulse.
Simpkins says their mission then changed from rescue to recovery.
He says for fear others may be hurt trying to recover the body, they called a special trench rescue team from Blacksburg to come and help.
Two OSHA officials were also called to the scene.
He says while the Blacksburg crew was working, OSHA shut down the recovery efforts for a time period, because they though the hole was too big for the walls that were supporting the rescue workers.
The town of Christiansburg was then called in to bring a special "build a box" to help with reenforcement.
They assembly that in the parking lot and then lowered it down into the hole.
Simpkins says Matney's body was recovered around 11:57 p.m.
It has been sent to the Roanoke Medical Examiner's Office to determine the exact cause of death.
Simpkins says Matney was apparently digging a trench next to a sidewalk, when the dirt under the sidewalk caved in on him.
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