According to local media outlets Fox Charlotte and WCNC, the victim – whose name has not been released – fell 20 feet into the hopper with the dozer when a void in the coal pile gave at Duke Energy’s Marshall steam station in Catawba County.
The incident occurred at about 6.15am and emergency crews were able to pull him from the rubble without injury at about 6.45am.
The individual was able to maintain radio contact the entire time.
The Marshall steam plant, located near Terrell, is a four-unit complex and is one of the largest owned by Duke.
Charlotte-based Duke Energy has 58,200 megawatts of generating capacity from coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil and renewables.
