Student found alive in rubble

A Washburn student trapped in the rubble of the Whiting collapse was found alive and conscious this morning.

Jeff Tippings, 20, a sophomore at Washburn, was waiting for his Walk/Jog class to begin when a crane crashed into the east wall of Whiting. Tippings was trapped for 3 hours.

Tippings is in serious but stable condition at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He has a broken arm, three broken ribs, suffered a concussion, and abrasions on his skin. Tippings is expected to be released from the hospital as early as tomorrow morning.

“I was really scared that no one would be able to get to be. I started screaming when I was first buried but no one answered,” said Tippings.

Rick Hansen, a volunteer for the Red Cross Kansas Captiol Chapter, heard a voice under the rubble he was closely monitoring and quickly went for help. Tippings was under portions of the collapsed wall and could not move.

“I am so thankful that I was in the right place at the right time because he needed help. It took about a half hour for three men to free him from the rubble,” said Hansen. “I just hope that we can find more people because I know people are still missing family and friends.”

Tippings family was contacted immediately and went to see him at the hospital. They are just glad to know he is safe.

“We were so worried because we knew he had class around that time. It is a blessing from God that he is safe with us today. Washburn was very well organized and contacted us immediately, we were very grateful,” said Tippings mother, Susan Tippings.