Fire crews from around the area responded Friday afternoon to reports of a man stuck in a trench on Mercer Island.

A man, described to be in his 40s, was working in a trench under a deck at a house located in the 4500 block of 84th Ave. S.E. While working, dirt and rocks from the hill under the deck sloughed down and trapped the man up to his waist.

Crews from Mercer Island, Eastside Fire and Rescue and the Seattle Fire Department Heavy Rescue responded to the incident around 12:30 p.m.

Mercer Island Battalion Chief Shawn Matheson told reporters, crews were able to remove the man after about an hour by cutting a hole through the deck and lifting him out. Prior to the deck cutting, firefighters gave the man a shovel to see if he could dig himself out, to no avail.

Crews were unable to enter under the deck from the opposite side because they would have to shore up the dirt and rocks every four feet to keep the path clear.

Matheson said the man was transported to the hospital complaining of leg pain, but did not know the full extent of his injuries.

More information will be added as it becomes available.