A trench gave way at a worksite in California's Central Valley last week. An excavation worker, who was also a former soccer player, died after being trapped underground for hours.
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The Rescue Attempt Took Nearly Five Hours
As reported by the New York Post, the tragic incident took place on the morning of Sep. 18 in Hickman, a small farming community about 15 miles east of Modesto.
According to the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, workers were digging 5 miles east of Hickman Road and Lake Road when the trench collapsed.
A crew of more than 30 firefighters came on the scene to rescue the worker. The operation took nearly five hours. The cause of the collapse is unknown, and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is currently investigating.
"Upon arrival, firefighters found that a large trench had collapsed while a crew was working, trapping one worker underground," said officials. "Firefighters and technical rescue personnel worked for several hours to remove the victim from the trench. The victim was recovered and determined to be deceased."
The Worker Was Identified as a Soccer Player
The New York Post then reported the worker's identity. Pablo Gomez, a goalkeeper for the Modesto City Football Club in 2019 and 2020, was 34 at the time of his death.
"This is a very sad day for the [Modesto City Football Club] family and the Modesto, California, area," the club said on Instagram. "Our condolences go out to the family."
A GoFundMe was created to help the family of the former soccer player, and it describes him as "a great friend, a great son, a great brother, a great uncle, cousin and a great father." He was a "very cheerful" man "who loved to dance and loved to have a good time."
It adds that Gomez's death has left those who knew and loved him with "a profound sadness that is hard to fathom."
