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Sydney crane collapse: men dangle 60m above ground

There were dramatic scenes 60 metres above Sydney on Sunday when a large construction crane atop a building collapsed, trapping three workers who are “very lucky to be alive”.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales Inspector Ron James said emergency services were called to the crane collapse at Arthur Street, North Sydney about 11.30am, with reports that three people were trapped.

“On arrival, we found the boom of the crane was hanging over the side of the building with three people [hanging] inside the boom,” Inspector James said.

“With the help of Ambulance Special Operation and Police Rescue, Fire and Rescue NSW removed those persons from the crane, using a rescue bucket.

“I believe one had serious injuries.”

Photo: AAP

The men were dismantling the crane. Photo: AAP

After being rescued, the men, aged 24, 28 and 36, were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

NSW Police said they had been “attached by lanyard and trapped for a short time”.

The workers were dismantling the crane when the accident occurred.

“I couldn’t tell if they were inside the boom, or on [top of] the boom, but they were [somewhere] on the swinging boom of the crane when it collapsed into the building … which is the arm of the crane, the bit that hangs out of the crane, with the wire hanging off the end,” Inspector James said.

“They were 20 levels up, so it was quite high and they were hanging on the crane because it was in a vertical position, the boom … at least … 60 metres above the ground.”

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The men were suspended at least 60m high. Photo: AAP

‘Thank heavens’ for safety harnesses

Inspector James said the men were “very lucky” to be alive.

“Thank heavens they had their harnesses on.”

Inspector James said the crane’s boom was mangled and needed to be removed.

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Witnesses said the sound the collapse made was huge. Photo: AAP

The NSW Police statement said the men had various injuries, which were not life-threatening.

“Police have been told three workers were inside the crane when it malfunctioned, collapsed and hit a concrete wall,” the statement said.

“The 24-year-old man managed to release himself and climbed to safety on the roof of the building.

“Other workers lowered a metal box using a second crane to assist the other men.

“The pair were released and lowered to the ground.”

Engineers will attend and assess the site and SafeWork NSW will investigate the incident.

Trent, a witness, told the ABC “the noise was really loud”.

“I heard a real distinctive noise like the crashing and everything, and figured it must have been scaffolding or a crane that came down,” he said.

“I’ve witnessed scaffolding falling before … I’ve been on construction sites, but I’ve witnessed a grandstand come down before.”

– with ABC

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