US Man Jumps Into Vat Of Acid To Save Co-Worker (VIDEO)

New Jersey ironworker Martin Davis, 44, fell 12m into the vat of nitric acid on Monday morning, local time, breaking his rib and puncturing his lung.

Co-worker Rob Nuckols, 51, who was on the ground at the time, jumped in after him and pulled him to safety, NorthJersey.com reported.

"I had to get him out of there," Mr Nuckols told firefighters after the rescue.

Mr Davis was taken to hospital in a critical condition, suffering significant burns on his legs and side.

"His condition is not so good, but he’s a young guy," his brother said.

"He'll pull through."

Nuckols suffered burns on his legs and abdomen but was released from hospital later that day.

The nitric acid is used to clean metal tubing.

Martin Davis was working at Swepco Tube LLC, a metal tube manufacturing plant in Clifton, N.J., when he fell 40 feet into the tank of acid and became full submerged, fire officials said.
Clifton Fire Chief Vincent Colavitti Jr. told the Record that a fellow roofer, 51-year-old Rob Nuckols, jumped into the vat waist-high to pull Davis, 44, out. Three other workers helped Nuckols pluck Davis from the acid, which is used to clean metal tubing.
Rescue workers "cut Davis out of his clothes and sprayed him with water to limit burns," Colavitti told the paper.