Worker at New Jersey company rescued after being trapped under pile of steel

CARLSTADT, New Jersey (WABC) -- A worker was rescued after being trapped under a pile of steel in New Jersey Wednesday morning.

At 9:20 a.m., a crane dropped a pile of steel on top of the worker at the Knickerbocker Bed Company, 770 Commercial Ave. in Carlstadt.

Both of his legs were pinned under the pile.

The worker stayed alert and conscious until rescue crews were able to free him from underneath the debris.

They had to be careful not to cause more steel to come down on the victim, as well as to ensure the safety of those involved in the rescue.

It took rescuers about a half hour to pull the injured man out.

"We got a call for steel that fell on a guy's leg, approximately 3,500 pounds of steel," said Deputy Chief Stephen Capuano of the Carlstadt Fire Department. "Intense operation with a couple of towns, we got the pressure off."

Rescue crews from Carlstadt and Wallington fire departments also responded.

An investigation is underway into the cause of the accident.