SHAVANO PARK, Texas --

A construction worker was rescued after he fell 20 feet into a manhole in Shavano Park on Tuesday morning.

The man in his 30s was hospitalized with a broken ankle, a possible broken kneecap and was stable, paramedics at the scene said.

The man was walking at a construction site at the intersection of Loop 1604 and NW Military Highway at 8:30 a.m. when he fell in, said Jacob Mendiola, a battalion chief with the San Antonio Fire Department.

"It's a muddy mess over there and I (can) see how he could miss it," Mendiola said.

After paramedics confirmed that the air quality was sufficient in the hole and the man was stabilized, two rescue team members went into the hole to provide the man support. The man was conscious and talking with rescue team members during the incident.

About 1 hour and 20 minutes after the man fell, he was hoisted gently out of the hole on a tripod system. He was then taken to University Hospital.

Officials said the man was lucky to have not fallen head-first.

A temporary metal plate was on the side of the manhole but it was unclear whether it was covering the hole prior to the incident.

Shavano Park city officials plan to talk with the contractor to see if the accident was preventable and to make sure a similar incident doesn't happen again.

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