ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A construction worker was trapped for at least 90 minutes after a 10-foot-deep hole opened up outside Disney's Animal Kingdom on Tuesday, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
- Construction worker fell into hole outside Animal Kingdom
- Worker's leg was pinned, took firefighters 90 minutes to free him
- The hole was in a construction area in the parking lot
Firefighters responded just before 2 p.m. to a construction area next to the rideshare pickup and drop-off area in the parking lot.
The worker, who is in his 50s, was standing next to an excavated area when the ground around him collapsed, Orange County Fire Rescue spokesperson Michael Jachles said. The worker was partially trapped when his leg became pinned in the almost 10-foot deep hole.
It took firefighters, a total of 15 who rotated in and out, 90 minutes to free the worker.
"It's a delicate operation, and it takes time," Jachles said.
The worker, who is not a Disney World employee, was transported to a hospital to be checked out.
The area where the worker fell is part of a construction project to revamp the entrance at the park. Permits for the project were filed in February. Construction is also underway at Magic Kingdom and Epcot to make improvements to the entrances at those parks.