Man thrown out of crane working on second Tyne Tunnel

Oct 1 2009 The Journal

A MAN was injured after he was thrown out of his crane.

The worker on the new Tyne Tunnel had been moving steel reinforcements with a small forklift-type crane when the machine toppled into an excavation pit below Tyne View Terrace in Howdon.

Eight crews from Tyne and Wear fire and rescue service attended the incident alongside Mountain Rescue and the North East Ambulance Service at around 10.30am yesterday.

Firefighters used a crane to lift the injured man from the tunnel bed. It is believed the man, who was taken to North Tyneside General, had injuries to his left leg.

Managing director of Trevor Jackson said: “Somehow the machine toppled over and the impact broke the window where the man fell through. He fell around 80cm and may have hurt himself on the broken glass.

“We have stopped work while we have investigate into why it happened. Health and safety executives are also conducting their own investigations.

“That part of the site will be closed until investigations are closed, but we don’t think there will be any delays to our timetable.”