News 12 at 11, March 25, 2007

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- What started as a typical day of work for Robert Chaplin Sr. didn't end that way. Chaplin along with two other workers, from Chaplin & Sons Clearing and Demolition, were tearing down an abandoned house for the county. The house is located at 519 2nd Street in Augusta.

"Walked through the house, like we always do. And decided how we were going to tear it down," Robert Chaplin Sr. said.

About half way through the house, Chaplin noticed a body in the debris.

"He was up in the attic. We had no way of knowing he was in there," Chaplin said.

They immediately called 911. Richmond County Investigators got the call at 9:30 Tuesday morning.

"Oh my heart dropped. I just, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know where he came from because we'd already searched the house. And there was no stairway attic in the house. And I don't know how he got up in the attic, but he did," Chaplin said.

Chaplin said there was plenty of warning the house was going to be torn down. The equipment was even on site a day early. There was also a demolition permit posted in front of the house, which showed the project start date as March 25th. But the permit was posted a day before.

Chaplin said the man was breathing and thought he was sleeping.

"It's just a shocker. Why would somebody be in an attic? The house was falling down anyway, before we got out here," Chaplin said.

Investigators said the man, 57-year-old James Young was in the attic because he was covered with insulation.

"As we were tearing the house down, I would assume he just fell down with the debris," Chaplin said.

Investigators are calling this an accident. They said James Young is in serious condition at MCG, with a crushed pelvis.