10.05.2016
Tower crane fall in Belgium
A tower crane collapsed onto a school gymnasium in Kortrijk, Belgium yesterday trapping and seriously injuring the operator, while three construction workers suffered less serious injuries. [[The operator died from his injuries before he could be rescues)]]
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The scene yesterday afternoon
The incident occurred yesterday morning at the Rhizo where the crane was helping construct a new set of classrooms for a new set of cuisine courses at the school. Thankfully there were no children in that part of the building at the time, those that might normally have been in the gymnasium, were doing their exercises outside in the sun, although one child is reported to have been taken to hospital, possibly with shock and dust inhalation following the incident.
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The damage to the building is extensive
The operator was still trapped in his cab at midnight as the story went to press, his survival is looking increasingly doubtful as he is known to have suffered server injuries from the impact with the building. [[He finally died from his injuries and was declared dead at the scene]]
The rescue is continuing overnight, but the situation is precarious as the damage to the building is so severe that it is unstable and the crane is completely caught up in the building. Rescue workers have two cranes on site and are carefully cutting and clearing the wreckage to try and reach him.
Local reports we have received claim that the fallen crane is a Peiner, but we have not been able to confirm that fully yet.
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The crane lost stability for some reason and tipped from its counterweighted base
Mike, in one way I can understand your comment about the rescue, I had the same feeling in the first hours after I heard the news. What I understood and heard is that rescue workers could not going in to the building because it lost stability due the impact and that the operators cab was covered with concrete and beams. I think it must have been a tough decision for the rescuers as well, I'm sure if they had the chance they would have rescued him. Would you send your rescuers in the building with a risk for their own lives because the instability? Anyway, I hope the operator didn't had to suffer. Poor man, may he rest in peace..
Mike74
Judging by the colors and central ballast bricks shape, it might have been a heavier Terex-Peiner indeed. The counterjib seems to be resting at the tower, but strangely enough, I cannot spot the counterballast blocks anywhere they should be in such situation. Can it be that the crane lost the piece of counterjib somehow and then fell forward?... The more disturbing part however is the so called "rescue" of the trapped crane operator. Perhaps the photos somehow do not give the justice to the situation, but is it just me or preparations of the rescue mission taking *a day and half of a night* while the wounded operator slowly dies from his injuries is just outrageous? I do not want to rise an unnecessary controversy, but to me it looks like a man being paid to assume a risk and pulling short straw on a bad day left to die by men refusing to assume the risk they are being paid to take. Surely one of the saddest stories of this kind.