One of two contractors trapped in a Downers Grove storm sewer on Monday, July 27, has been pulled out alive, but the fire department has stopped active rescue efforts for the second worker and shifted to a recovery operation.

The rescued worker was found approximately 200 feet from the original point of entry and transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in good condition, according to a village news release. The second worker remains missing.

Village officials said dangerous water levels inside the sewer forced the Downers Grove Fire Department to suspend the search. Crews will resume when conditions improve to a safe level, but no timeline has been announced.

How it started

Around 12:50 p.m. Monday, July 27, Downers Grove police officers were flagged down by workers at a storm sewer construction site in the 800 block of Curtiss Street. The workers reported two contractors were trapped below the street, and the fire department launched a technical rescue immediately.

The contractors had been cleaning the sewers when strong storms brought heavy rain to the area, ABC7 Chicago reported. Downers Grove was under a tornado warning during the storm, and the village reported extensive localized flooding, downed tree limbs, and debris throughout the community, according to CBS News Chicago.

Multi-agency response

Rescue crews from at least half a dozen west suburban fire departments responded to the scene, CBS News Chicago reported. Firefighters worked through three different storm drains spanning multiple blocks, according to NBC Chicago. Street closures were in place in the 800 block of Curtiss Street while the operation continued.

What's still unknown

Authorities have not released the names of the two contractors or identified their employer. Village officials described them only as "contractor workers." ABC7 reported the pair had been cleaning sewers "for the city," but no contracting firm has been officially confirmed.

Officials have not disclosed how the workers became trapped.

The village said it will provide updates as they become available.