Emergency crews rushed to the aid of a man whose arm became trapped up to the shoulder in a tortilla-making machine at a Memorial-area grocery store on Friday morning.

 

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. at Sawaya Brothers Market, located at 425 S. 30th Street, north of Ocean View Boulevard and west of State Route 15, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

 

"The gentleman was loading the tortilla machine when he slipped and fell, trapping his arm in the machine. His arm became completely lodged up to his shoulder at a 90-degree angle," explained San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Josh Slatinsky. "When units arrived, they found him suspended in the air. They managed to disassemble the machine enough to bring him down to the ground, relieve the pressure on his shoulder, and load him—along with part of the machine—into an ambulance for transport to a local hospital," reported a website.

 

Chief Slatinsky mentioned that a doctor was contacted to evaluate the injured man at the scene. "There is always the possibility of field amputations or more complex medical procedures that we are unable to perform," he added.

 

A team of 34 people assisted in the disassembly of the machine. Cal/OSHA will be notified, and the tortilla section of the market will be closed for a health and safety inspection, according to Chief Slatinsky.