High Stakes Rescue of 500 Pound Man from Pomona Construction Shaft

A massive technical rescue operation unfolded in Pomona on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, after a 500 pound man fell 15 feet into a narrow construction hole.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. in the 1800 block of Gillette Road, near the San Bernardino 10 Freeway and the Fairplex.

The 40 year old victim became trapped at the bottom of a vertical shaft that was only three to four feet in diameter, creating a precarious situation for both the victim and the arriving emergency crews.

Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel, including specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, responded to the scene to conduct what was described as a high angle confined space rescue.

Given the victim's weight and the restricted dimensions of the hole, rescuers could not simply pull him out.

Instead, they had to establish a complex hoisting system using heavy machinery and tripods positioned over the opening.

Firefighters worked for over an hour in sweltering afternoon heat to stabilize the victim and secure him for the vertical extraction.

Officials have confirmed that the man was not an employee at the construction site, though they have not yet explained how he managed to access the area or fall into the shaft.

Once successfully hoisted to the surface, the man was immediately placed on advanced life support and rushed to Pomona Valley Medical Center.

While the extent of his injuries has not been publicly disclosed, the fall from 15 feet combined with the trauma of the entrapment necessitated an emergency transport.

The site remained cordoned off as investigators looked into the safety protocols of the construction zone and why an unauthorized individual was able to enter the area.