Construction worker rescued after falling 5 metres into pit in Wateridge Village
Specialized firefighter rope teams extracted an injured worker from a deep pit on Hemlock Road after he fell from a ladder Wednesday afternoon.
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A construction worker was safely pulled from a deep pit in the east end after falling from a ladder on Wednesday afternoon.
Specialized firefighter rope teams responded to the 1200 block of Hemlock Road in the Wateridge Village community around 3 p.m. Ottawa police were already on scene and reported that a worker had fallen from a ladder into the more than 5-metre pit.
When crews arrived, they confirmed an injured worker was at the bottom. Two firefighters descended into the pit to help the worker into a Stokes basket—a specialized rescue basket used for vertical extractions. Once inside, a crew member attached themselves to the basket, while an aerial ladder anchored it from outside the pit to support the weight during the lift.
The worker was safely removed by 3:55 p.m. and was transported to hospital by Ottawa paramedics.
At a glance
Where did the rescue happen?
The rescue took place at the 1200 block of Hemlock Road in the Wateridge Village community in Ottawa's east end.
How deep was the pit the worker fell into?
The pit was more than 5 metres deep.
What time was the worker extracted?
The construction worker was safely removed from the pit by 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2026.
