Woman survives after scaffold collapse horror

Mar 16 2009 The Journal

A WOMAN was lucky to escape alive after being crushed by collapsing scaffolding.

The 68-year-old was recovering in Newcastle General Hospital yesterday suffering with a broken hip and ankle after she was trapped by boards from scaffolding which fell in Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle.

The incident happened as the pensioner, believed to be from the St Anthony’s area of Byker, was walking towards the former Beavan store at around 9.20am on Saturday.

She was rescued from the rubble by firefighters who used air bags and hydraulic lifting equipment to free her, while a doctor from the nearby NHS Walk-in Centre was called to check her injuries. Work is being done to the old Beavan store and the scaffolding, which belongs to a company called Skyline Scaffolding, covered the front of the building. It is believed the property is being converted into flats and a shop.

An investigation is now being carried out by police and health and safety officials. A structural engineer from Newcastle City Council was also called to check the site. Eyewitness Asif Anwar, 20, whose family runs the A&S Discount Store on Shields Road, said: “I was standing next to the shop window when I heard an almighty crash. I looked out and saw the scaffolding on the ground outside and then I heard a woman shouting.

“The scaffolding bars missed her but the wood fell directly on her. She was lucky really because I’m sure she would have died if a metal bar hit her.”