A man has died and his stepson was seriously injured when a retaining wall collapsed on them in South Brisbane on Tuesday.

Emergency crews responded to reports of the collapse and two men being trapped just before 9am Tuesday.

A 19-year-old man, who required a “prolonged” extrication, was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a stable condition with chest injuries and minor compression injuries to his legs.

The teen’s stepfather Kimura Dixon, 45, died at the scene.

His daughter Rheign Reedy-Dixon said her father’s death was “so sudden and tragic”.

“All we can think about was how excited he would’ve been to be able to be at work to provide for the household,” she said.

“Our dad was the most caring and amazing father ever, his love for us kids was beyond words. He would’ve done anything if it meant he could come home to us.

“He filled rooms with laughter and especially love.

“I hope he wasn’t scared and didn’t suffer, I just wish we all could’ve said goodbye.”

Inspector Chris Pemberton said the men were working in a shallow trench at the foot of a large retaining wall, which held earth beneath a two-story wooden structure next door.

Police were first on the scene and helped the six remaining workers on the site remove rubble to open an airway for the younger man.

Pemberton said this almost certainly saved the man’s life.

“He was then left in situ due to the complexity of the entrapment,” he said.

The incident, which occurred on a site next to the Soda Factory, forced the closure of Boundary Street between Melbourne and Edmondstone streets.

The site is bare dirt, suggesting work had only recently begun.

Police advised occupants of the neighbouring property to evacuate due to fears of a further collapse.

Marc O’Brien from the Queensland Fire Department said tools usually used at earthquake sites were used to pull the 19-year-old out from beneath the wall, a process that took about an hour.

“The rescue scene is quite a tricky one,” he said.

“We’ve obviously got a structural collapse that has already taken a life, and another life was in the balance.”

Laser monitoring, along with large sheets of plywood to further support the wall, were used to prevent a second collapse.

“The concrete is incredibly heavy,” O’Brien said.

“We had a number of resources ready to go, ranging from bare hands and sledgehammers, which we did apply to good effect, right through to concrete cutting tools.”

Queensland Ambulance Service operational supervisor Elly Rinks said the 19-year-old was conscious and breathing well when paramedics arrived at the scene.

After he was successfully extracted, he was taken to an ambulance in a basket carrier in a stable condition before being driven to the RBWH.

Workplace Health and Safety are leading an investigation into the incident and police will compile a report for the coroner.

Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.