A 35-year-old Bridgeport construction worker was hospitalized after a basement wall partially collapsed - twice - leaving him "knee-deep in debris" for more than three hours Monday, city officials said.

It happened at a multifamily home that's under renovation in the 1000 block of Stratford Avenue shortly after 9 a.m.

"As serious and somber as this situation is, we have a very happy ending to what could easily have been a terrible tragedy," said Mayor Joe Ganim.

The home, constructed about a 100 years ago, is built on a stone foundation, said Fire Chief Lance Edwards.

"A side wall apparently crumbled and left the worker, while he was in a standing position, buried up to his knees and unable to free himself," Edwards said.

"He was conscious and alert the whole time and suffered only non life-threatening injuries to his lower extremities," Edwards said.

Local residents cheered as first responders carried the worker on a stretcher to an ambulance around 12:30 p.m.

"We were praying and hoping for a happy ending and that's what we got," said neighbor Kimberly Thompson.

Stephenson Bruno, who owns the property, thanked first responders for getting to the scene quickly and helping to bring about a positive outcome.

"We have all the necessary permits for the work we're doing here, and we will, of course, cooperate fully with investigators," Bruno said.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident, in partnership with local officials, Edwards said.