Emergency workers spent hours Tuesday afternoon trying to rescue a man who became trapped into cesspool in East Hills in Nassau County.
The man, later identified as Mario Flores, was working on the walls of the new cesspool when they caved in on him. The Roslyn Fire Department responded to a 911 call shortly before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
He was taken out at about 3:50 p.m. -- and appeared to be conscious and have full use of his limbs although he was taken to an ambulance on a stretcher.
Later, Nassau University Medical Center put out a statement for Flores, who said he didn't want to be interviewed.
"I am grateful to all those who rescued me, especially the firemen, police officers and all the EMS personnel who sacrificed themselves and stayed with me during the entire time of my rescue," the statement said. "I had faith in God and all those helping me."
Rescuers had called for a vacuum truck used to pump out cesspools and a nearby elementary school was evacuated when a medical helicopter landed on the grounds, officials said.
Firefighters say the the hole that the man was in has weak walls and could have collapsed at any time.
