California worker alive after rescue from meat grinder

In this July 16, 2015 photo provided by the San Luis Obispo Fire Dept., a worker is assisted by fire personnel after his sleeve was caught in a meat grinder in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Fire officials say the employee at a wholesale California grocer is lucky to be alive after getting caught in a running meat grinder. The worker's sleeve got caught and was being pulled in when a co-worker heard his screams and shut the machine off. Fire crews had to pry the machine open to get the worker out who suffered a broken arm. (Garret Olson/San Luis Obispo Fire Dept. via AP) (The Associated Press)

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Fire officials say an employee at a wholesale California grocer is lucky to be alive after his shirt sleeve got caught in a running meat grinder.

The man was trying to dislodge a piece of meat Thursday that appeared to be caught in a hopper at the San Luis Obispo grocer.

Fire Chief Garret Olson says the employee's sleeve was being pulled into the machine when a co-worker heard his screams and shut off the machine.

Olson says the man was a second away from suffering potentially fatal injuries.

Fire crews had to pry the machine open to get him out. He suffered a broken arm.