A sewage plant employee became faint and died Thursday while working in a 30-foot hole, and three other people who tried to rescue him were overcome by an unknown gas and had to be hospitalized, officials said.

Jack Hogan, 31, of Baden, was the worker who died, said Sewickley Borough Manager Kevin Flannery. Hogan, who was hired in June, was married and his wife gave birth to a child about eight weeks ago, Flannery said.

"The borough family's taken a real loss," Flannery said. "It's a sad day for all of us."

Hogan was working in the hole and fell back into it as he was trying to climb out shortly before 1 p.m., Flannery said. Hogan radioed for help after becoming faint, said Tom Rabickow, a forensic supervisor with the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office.

Flannery said the plant's supervisor, Dennis Mike; an inspector for the borough's engineering firm; and a construction worker for a contractor climbed into the hole to help Hogan. All three were overcome by fumes, he said.