Second man dies after trench collapse on Ballarat work site

Photo: Alexandra Keefe, Nine News

The young man who was trapped after a trench collapsed on a building site in the state’s west yesterday has died in hospital.

Jack Brownlee, 20, is the second person to die after the collapse at a construction site at Delacombe near the Glenelg Highway in Ballarat.

Excavators and emergency services worked for almost three hours to free Mr Brownlee, who was buried waist-deep in dirt.

He was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition with lower body injuries but sadly died in hospital this morning.

Emergency Crews were first called to the corner of Wiltshire Lane and the Glenelg Highway just after 11am yesterday.

A witness told Neil Mitchell a new housing estate was being built, and workers were putting in new pipes when the two men became trapped.

Mr Brownlee’s family released a statement today.

“We have the unfortunate task of announcing our son, brother and best mate Jackie Boy has passed away.

“We would like to thank the efforts of the amazing team at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for the care, compassion and efforts over the past 24 hours.”

Another man, in his 30s, died at the scene.