A construction worker who was trapped in his backhoe for 17 minutes after a retaining wall collapsed on him was in stable condition with head and chest injuries in the Intensive Care Unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital last night.

The man saw the wall on Vesey Street, Devonshire collapsing below another construction worker operating a Bobcat excavator and went to his rescue.

But his attempt to place the boom of his backhoe against the Bobcat failed and he was trapped in the machine as the mound of rubble and concrete collapsed on him, a Fire Service spokesman said yesterday.

Fire Service spokesman Lt. Dana Lovell said the call came in at 12.08 p.m. and when firefighters arrived the man was still trapped, but a worker from a nearby construction site had come over with another backhoe to help remove the rubble.

Lt. Lovell said the man who was hurt was trying to save the Bob Cat operator, who was working close to the edge of a ledge.

The injured man saw the wall collapsing and put the boom of his backhoe against the Bobcat, but it failed to stop the wall from collapsing.

Lt. Lovell said he was removed at 12.33 p.m. and transported to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with head and chest injuries.

Government Health and Safety officer Harry Powell said an investigation would be conducted by his office with Police and the Fire Service.

The investigation would focus on the integrity of the wall at the construction site and whether it had planning permission.

“There was a very good chance he could have lost his life,” Mr. Powell said.