A Cohasset man found himself in a perilous situation at a local construction site when he became trapped in a water-filled pit. According to the Cohasset Police Department's Facebook page, the man, a 43-year-old employee of the LLC that owns part of the building, was treading in ocean water for over two hours before managing to self-extricate. Following his escape from the pit, the victim, whose name has not been released, was reportedly suffering from potential hypothermia and injuries sustained during the ordeal.
First responders rushed to the former Atlantica Restaurant at 46 Border Street after receiving a 911 call about the incident. Upon arrival, they discovered the large, unmarked pit inside what used to be the kitchen, now submerged under 8 feet of ocean water. The Cohasset Fire Department paramedics treated the man on site and subsequently transported him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into this workplace accident is ongoing. Federal investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) arrived at the scene the following morning to evaluate the safety protocols—or lack thereof—that led to the man's entrapment. The embattled kitchen area remains cordoned off as authorities shine light on the circumstances surrounding the incident and seek measures to prevent similar happenings in the future.
It is unclear how the pit became exposed and filled with water, but this oversight raises questions about site safety. CohLobster, LLC, the property's main owner, is now collaborating with OSHA and the Cohasset Building Department to secure the construction site and eliminate further risks to workers and the public. The outcome of this investigation is critical, not only for the injured man but also for every worker who steps onto a construction site hoping to return home safely at the end of the day.
