22.02.2009

Rescue from 40 floors up

According to our information the following accident occurred on January 29th at the Jumeirah Lakes Towers development.

The boom of a Building Maintenance Unit (BMU) system was ripped from its platform base, apparently due to gross overloading, through materials hanging on the side of the basket, although our photographs do not appear to corroborate that.

The boom was dragged from its position across the roof of the 45 storey building towards the parapet and thankfully caught up in plant and equipment on the roof.
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The damaged boom and suspended platform

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The boom of the BMU ripped out of its platform and came to rest among the AC units and chests

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The boom smashed into a lower parapet

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A photo from the bottom shows the height of the incident

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Those inside take a look, hardly daring to hope that the platform occupants are safe

The platform dropped around 10 to 15 metres before coming to a halt, debris rained down on those working below.

Those working in side rushed to the nearest window, and pulled the platform in close, spotting that the two occupants were still alive and just about conscious; they removed the window and pulled the man closest to safety.
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Those closest pull the platform in closer to the open window

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One man surfaces, but still dazed drops back into the platform

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After removing the window rescuers reach in and pull the other occupant to safety

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Out he comes safe but dazed

The second man had collapsed after trying to stand just after the platform came to rest, unable to reach him from the window, one brave man put his life at risk and climbed into the precariously suspended platform and pulled the injured man to safety.
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Unable to reach the other man from the window, a brave man climbs in to the suspended platform

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He helps extract the man from the platform

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And then climbs back into the building, thankfully the platform did not fall

It wasn’t until half an hour after the accident that the rescuers had the idea to stabilise the boom, neither did they consider some form of harness for the rescuer. However commenting on such lapses from the safety of a desk is easy. There is no questioning the rescuers bravery, he is a true hero.

Some quick thinking might have reduced the risk the man subjected himself to, however alls well that ends well.