An EMS spokesman said the 24-year old man was about 1,000 feet down and 300 feet into the tunnel, working to shore-up part of the excavation, when a support beam fell and struck him at about 2:45 this afternoon.

Medics said it seemed likely he’d survive, but that his injuries were very serious.

Firefighters originally responded to what they thought was a rescue, but other construction workers had the injured man out of the tunnel and above ground by the time first responders arrived.

The man was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge.