Minor injuries after Pierce County worker slides down sewer pipe

Published 4:02 pm Monday, March 21, 2011

UNIVERSITY PLACE — Pierce County officials say a 37-year-old worker was rescued Monday morning after he came loose from a safety line and slid down a large sewer pipe at Chambers Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The man, a contractor for Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, was swept down 3,000 feet through a pipe about six feet in diameter.

West Pierce Fire & Rescue spokesman Hallie McCurdy says firefighters and co-workers were able to pull him to safety.

The man was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation. He appeared to have minor injuries.