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01.10.2014

Teenagers trapped in boom lift

Two teenagers managed to start a boom lift parked on a housing estate in Grimsby, UK, and had to be rescued from the elevated platform by the local fire service.

The fire department were called out around 10pm on Monday night when the two boys, one 16 and one 17, were spotted on in the extended telescopic boom at a height of around 15 metres.
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The rescue takes place on Monday night


The two were taken to the police station for questioning.

Vertikal Comment

How the two were able to start the machine is anyone’s guess and demonstrates how important it is to lock a machine up securely. Thankfully no one was hurt and no damage was done. One minor thought is that it is encouraging - in a warped way - that young people are taking in interest in aerial work platforms, rather than the usual diggers etc…. and that they were able to operate it.

Comments

JimP
I'm originally from the town (i now work in Oman, in the Middle East), and it shames me that whenever we are mentioned in the world, it's for all the wrong reasons.

The local paper did a story on this:

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Teens-arrested-operating-machinery/story-23024441-detail/story.html

apparently one lad lifted the other lad into the air, where he promptly got stuck. Both were arrested and questioned by Police.

I like the comments made so far, especially the lack of knowledge on Emergency lowering systems by both the culprits and the Fire Brigade. Makes me wonder why the machine was left so unsecure and accessible in the first place.

Oct 2, 2014

AccessibL
You are perfectly right on your comments. I couldn't agree more.
Do schools just not teach any logic these days?
"If that makes it go up, how d'ya reckon we'll get down?"
I reckon it's just that common problem where the green light goes off, the orange one flashes, everyone panics and calls for a fitter!
"It didn't do what I expected it to do when I did it. It must be broken".
I am usually on the anti- side of all the corporate certification, and all that nonsense. However, I can always admit I'm mistaken.
Maybe it ran out of diesel? But still, as mentioned, there are other controls. Don't expect that silly cable at the end of the knob to work, even if anyone can understand what it should do, but the electric auxiliary should have been okay.

Oct 1, 2014

Kevin Morris
Agree with your thoughts Float your load. I would also be happy if the emergency services charged them or their parents for the call out.

Oct 1, 2014

Two thoughts here....

One : Is it not more of a worry that the Fire Brigade were not able to operate the ground controls to lower the lads in a more conventional manor. Obviously I don't know the full details but one assumes that the machine was started using the ground control key switch (or screwdriver in the lock ) so it should be reasonable to switch over to ground controls to lower them.

two : Other philosophy being - leave the little sods up there overnight till they are propper cold and uncomfortable and P**ed off with life and then rescue them - maybe they will learn a valuable lesson on life that way !

Oct 1, 2014