Craig 6700 Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Three workers have been seriously injured when scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in the centre of Milton Keynes. One eyewitness said the scaffolding fell "like a pack of cards" from 14 floors. One of those injured is in surgery, said a hospital spokesman. The fire service is bringing in specialist equipment to check if anyone else is under the scaffolding. A new Jurys Inn Hotel and homes are being built at Witan Gate. Thames Valley Ch Insp Andy Stanton said the fire brigade had used heat-seeking equipment to search the site but more specialist equipment was on the way. He added as far as the authorities knew everyone had been accounted for. Up to 200 workmen are thought to have been on the site, but it appears many were on their lunchbreak when the scaffolding collapsed. Eyewitness Nick Reynolds said: "It came down like a pack of cards." Others said it sounded like a roll of thunder. Mr Stanton said: "The fire and ambulance services and police have been working together to rescue people from the site. "Clearly some of the injuries are likely to be serious but we have no confirmation that anyone has died. "We are working with the ambulance service and Health and Safety Executive to make sure a site search is undertaken and the investigation will be thorough and painstaking." The three people who were rescued were taken to Milton Keynes General Hospital. Police said they were talking to the firm responsible for the scaffolding and a thorough investigation of the site would be carried out with the local authority building control unit and the Health and Safety Executive. 'High winds' A spokesman for the site contractors McAleer and Rushe said the company would be issuing a statement about the incident. Two Shires Ambulance Service said: "Apart from the three people taken to hospital a number of others were treated for minor injuries at the scene." Initially they sent 10 ambulances, two emergency vehicles, two air ambulances, two accident and emergency vehicles and set up two offices. An eyewitness said high winds were blowing when the accident happened. Radio Five Live listener Christopher Keen said he saw 15 to 20 ambulances at the scene. He said shortly after the collapse: "It looks like absolute devastation. It is a massive building site, there are six tower cranes but the scaffolding is just one pile of matchsticks." Des Williamson, of Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This is as serious as it gets. The initial rescue was reasonably straightforward. "Since then we have mobilised specialist equipment. We are going to start a very detailed search of the rubble. "If there are persons trapped under there we will take every precaution and we will find them." Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bu...rts/4899750.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Now thats an ouch ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddy 17 Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 would not like the job of re-staking all that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31299 Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Dozy Irish twats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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