16.12.2013

Boom lift fatality

A man died on Thursday in Verden, to the east of Bremen, Germany after he was bounced out of the platform of a boom lift.

Details are still very sketchy, but according to reports from the Verden/ Osterholz police, the man, 30, was driving the raised boom lift when the ground conditions caused it to drop suddenly, throwing him out of the platform, he fell around nine metres to his death.

Local reports suggest that there were two men in the platform at the time, and that the machine was driven off of a hard standing onto soft ground causing a catapult effect. They also claim that the other man was wearing a harness with lanyard attached and managed to remain in the platform and was unhurt – however this has not been fully corroborated.

Any further information of confirmation would be much appreciated.