KEY POINTS

  • The drilling machine was being operated by the deceased man's grandfather
  • Both the victim and his grandfather worked as independent contractors at the site
  • It was unclear how the man got inside the hole in the first place

A 22-year-old man died at a construction site in Texas, following a drilling accident, authorities said.

The incident happened at a warehouse construction site at I45 North and the Grand Parkway on Wednesday, shortly after 10 a.m., according to the Spring Fire Department. Investigators stated the young construction worker was inside a hole at the site when his grandfather, who was the machine operator, was working the drill bit, KPRC-TV reported.

"We had a drilling operator that appears to have been drilling a hole for construction and he had his 22-year-old grandson with him and, at some point, the grandson either fell in," Constable Mark Herman told the outlet. "We don't know how he got in the hole - but he ended up going in the hole and he was killed almost instantly."

"I don't want to get into the logistics of it, but the drill ended up killing him," Herman added. "It's very tragic and appears to be an accident."

The officials added the grandfather was unaware anyone was in the hole when he lowered the drill. It was unclear how the man got inside the hole in the first place.

Harris County Constable deputies, along with Emergency Medical Services and Fire Officials, responded to the scene and recovered the construction worker's body from the hole.

The man was found unresponsive, and pronounced dead on the scene.

"Spring Fire's Rescue Team assisted by firefighters from nearby Spring and Woodlands stations are shoring up a collapsed hole so they can recover the construction worker's body," the officials said in a statement.

No other workers sustained injuries, they added.

Herman further noted both the grandfather and grandson were working together as independent contractors for a construction company.

"When you get a call like this it just tears at your heart, I mean I went back out there just to get a feel for the scene itself," he added. "It's something you never want to see."

The identities of the victim and the grandfather were not released by the officials.

Meanwhile, Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating the incident.

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People sit outside a construction site in Singapore February 16, 2021.
Reuters / EDGAR SU