23.05.2025

'Bucket list' wishes for hero crane operator

UK based crane operator Glen Edwards, 67, who rescued a workman from a burning high-rise building at the Station Hill development in Reading in November 2023, is set to have his bucket list wishes granted after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Edwards was hailed for his skilful rescue when he used a man basket attached to the hook of the luffing jib tower crane he was operating to save a workman trapped on the roof of the burning building who would have surely died without his intervention. Click here for the original Vertikal report from 2023

Following his heroic actions, he was dubbed the ‘Bruce Willis of Reading’ and received formal recognition from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue for his "incredibly skilful rescue, under extremely difficult circumstances."

After learning that his spine cancer had progressed, Edwards' wife Kate approached Berkshire charity Bucket List Wishes for assistance. The charity, which specialises in granting wishes for terminally ill adults in Berkshire, has stepped in to help the family.

Whilst on Radio Berkshire, Edwards said: "I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and had cancer in the tongue in February when I rescued the guy. I got that cleared up with radiotherapy but then in the next breath, after I had a full body scan, the consultant told me that I had cancer in my spine in five places. I have been undergoing chemotherapy, my cancer will never go, but the doctors are trying to suppress it, but it has grown.”

The first priority for the charity is to help Edwards, his wife, and their teenage son with their house move, before arranging other wishes including a family photo shoot once they are settled.

Bucket List Wishes founder Gini Hackett added: "I just remember watching his nomination and thinking, 'Wow, he's incredible, what an incredible thing to do for another human'. Then Glen's wife contacted us just over a week ago to ask us if we would help them. We found this humbling but also, we've been emotional about this because we know how much of a hero Glen is. Hopefully we have gone over and above and made a quite simple but stressful thing of moving a lot easier for him."

The charity has organised the house move along with carpets, flooring, blinds and kitchen essentials, including an oven, as well as a new shed, and food shopping and bedding vouchers. They have also helped the Edwards family establish an online fundraising page to fulfil additional wishes.

Here is a recap of Glen’s heroic rescue