A man was hospitalized yesterday after his arm became trapped in a tortilla machine at Sawaya Brothers Market in Logan Heights, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) reported. The incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. at the grocery store at 425 S. 30th Street, as reported by NBC San Diego. The detailed process to safely extract the man required disassembling the industrial food-production device, which had ensnared his arm up to his shoulder.
Rescue teams worked deliberately to disengage the man from the apparatus, a portion of which he was still entrapped in when he was moved to an ambulance for transport to UC San Diego's Hillcrest location. The SDFD had to work to disassemble the machine carefully and were able "to disperse the weight off his shoulder and were able to load him with part of the machine into an ambulance," according to San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Josh Slatinsky in a statement obtained by NBC San Diego.
Officials said that the accident happened as employees were "loading up the tortilla machine" and that the victim, whose identity was not released, fell and became caught by the machine. It took approximately 45 minutes for the rescue crew of 34 personnel to free the man from his painful entrapment. After the rescue, Chief Slatinsky mentioned that Cal/OSHA would be contacted and that the tortilla section of the market would be temporarily shut down for a health inspection, as he told NBC San Diego.
Emergency responders, including resources from National City, converged on the scene to render aid. The response team avidly monitored the situation as they awaited additional support. "There was still a portion of machinery that had the patient’s arm and they could fit in the ambulance," a department spokesperson reported to FOX 5/KUSI. This indicates that the complexity of the industrial tortilla equipment necessitated a sustained effort to remove the injured party safely. Thankfully, no other individuals were reported hurt in the incident.
In appreciation for their systematic approach, the firefighters and emergency crews who assisted are acknowledged for their successful extrication despite the complex and delicate circumstances. Updates regarding the condition of the man and the subsequent operational changes within Sawaya Brothers Market are anticipated as further evaluations by relevant health and safety entities are done.
