A 71-year-old man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after his legs became trapped underneath an excavator’s track.

Huron County OPP say a construction company was doing repair work to the break-wall of Goderich’s northern harbour, using a barge as a worksite.

A tugboat and cables were used to hold the barge, on top of which the excavator sat, against the break-wall.

Shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday, the excavator reversed slightly at the same time the barge was hit by a large wave.

According to police, this caused the man to lose his footing and step into the excavator’s tracks.

A boat transported the London man the one-kilometre distance back to shore.

The Ministry of Labour is investigating.