Crane Collapse

Four workers narrowly escape death in a crane collapse in Croydon.

Six fire engines, four fire rescue units, an urban search and rescue unit and around 55 fire-fighters attended the scene of a crane collapse on Addiscombe Grove in Croydon this afternoon.

Part of the crane fell onto the roof of a hotel next door to the construction site where it was working. Around 140 people were evacuated from the hotel and other affected buildings in the surrounding area.

Fire-fighters using line rescue equipment released the crane driver who had been trapped inside the cab. The driver was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service suffering from serious injuries.

After securing the crane jib to the hotel roof, the Brigade’s line rescue teams safely lowered three other workers, who were trapped 45 metres up the tower of the crane, to ground level. They were uninjured but checked at the scene by ambulance crews.

The Brigade was called at 14.22 and the incident was over at 20.59. Fire crews from Croydon, Euston, Lewisham, Battersea, North Addington, Purley and West Norwood attended. The incident was left with the police and contractors.

To view further details and images of this accident please visit http://www.sitbonzo.com/crane