A CRANE OPERATOR was rushed to hospital late last night (June 4) after a large hook smashed through the cab and landed on his leg trapping him within with another crane brought to lift it just as he was installing electricity poles on Bang Na Trat road with his team, TV Channel 7 said.
At 11.40 p.m. Samut Prakan Hospital’s emergency medical service centre received a call via 1669 hotline of this accident at the inbound parallel lane, kilometre 5 of Bang Na Trat road, and quickly sent an emergency medical team, Ruam Katanyu Foundation rescuers and officials from other relevant agencies to the scene.
Upon arrival they saw that the crane was parked by the roadside with the cab window shattered. The crane operator, Mr. Pairach (surname withheld), 31, was trapped within with his leg pinned down by the large metal hook.
Another crane was brought to carefully lift the heavy hook with rescue workers and paramedics climbing onto the crane to help out with other rescue equipment, being under pressure because the injured man was in severe pain. After approximately 20 minutes, they were able to lift it and successfully removed the injured man from the cab.
Pairach was conscious and able to communicate with officials, but he sustained serious injuries, including a fractured and deformed right thigh with the bone exposed. Paramedics provided first aid at the scene before urgently transporting him to nearby Princ Suvarnabhumi Hospital
A worker who witnessed the accident said the team was installing concrete power poles, each approximately 22 metres high, a job subcontracted by the electricity authority. The crane operator was supporting one of the poles from below when he heard a loud noise with the crane’s steel hook then detaching and falling, piercing the driver’s cab.
The supervisor said the accident probably occurred because the operator mistakenly manipulated the wrong cable while lowering the pole causing the cable to snap and the counterweight hook then falling on the cab injuring him.
However, officials said they will conduct a detailed engineering investigation and gather evidence to determine the true cause of the accident. Investigators from Bang Kaeo police station have inspected the scene, questioned the site supervisor, and will interview the injured man again to ascertain exactly what happened and proceed according to the law.
CAPTION:
The 100-kg hook and rescuers freeing the trapped crane operator. Photo – TV Channel 7
Also read:
Multi-partisan panel proposed to look into ‘Do Help the Blue’ scandals
Shrimp farmers appeal for help after Malaysia banned imports
Random drug test shows nearly 30 of 100 students addicted
Thaksin granted today’s royal pardon to become a free man
Paying Chinese yuan instead of Thai baht for meals in Huai Khwang being probed: PM
Newin’s protege tipped to be named Interior undersecretary despite ‘Do Help the Blue’ scandal
DSI urged to pick up suspected scammer MP at parliament in July
Thailand among 4 Asean countries not yet buying World Cup broadcasting rights
Veteran US journalist laments the Lost Horizons of Asia and America
Foreign Ministry taps Young Gen Thai- Muslim talent to build peace tourism
As global military spending grows, Travel & Tourism faces a perilous future
