 |
 |
|
Rescue
workers were called to HMAS Waterhen earlier this month
when a mobile crane capsized while working nearby Young
Endeavour. The crane driver was trapped for more than three
hours before being freed.
|
By
Graham Davis.
A
Royal Australian Navy sailor was trapped for more than three hours
in the crushed cabin of his mobile crane after it toppled on a
wharf at HMAS Waterhen earlier this month.
The Port Service’s crane toppled as the Able Seaman was lifting
a steel workbench from the tray of a semi-trailer on to a pontoon
being used for maintenance work on the sail training ship Young
Endeavour.
The impact saw the crane cabin crushed against the tray of the
trailer and the sailor’s right leg pinned.
His left leg was also injured.
The crane jib came to rest on the pontoon narrowly missing a civilian
shipwright working beside Young Endeavour.
The incident resulted in a lengthy and extensive rescue operation
by civilian personnel, assisted by the ship’s company.
The Navy and NSW Water Police imposed an extensive watercraft
“no go” area around the base to reduce the wave action on the
pontoon that was causing the crane’s jib to flex.
The 24-year-old Able Seaman and his dogman workmate were helping
with work being done on Young Endeavour when the accident occurred.
The accident is now subject to investigations by the Navy, Workcover,
Comcare and the NSW Police.
“We received numerous telephone calls from those on Young Endeavour
and other lodger units nearby,” the senior medical officer in
the Waterhen sickbay, LEUT Denise Ierino, said.
“The driver was trapped by the leg but he was conscious and in
good spirits.”
The doctor said she gave him a special painkilling “pen” to suck
on to ease his pain and commenced oxygen therapy.
State emergency service units began to arrive including ambulance
paramedics, NSW Fire Rescue Unit from Crows Nest, fire pumper
from Neutral Bay, the Lane Cove Brigade and the Greenacre based
Urban Rescue Unit.
The crew of a Botany Cranes rig who were nearby when the Navy
crane toppled, was utilised to attach a steadying cable just above
the cabin and its trapped occupant.
The ambulance paramedics were joined by two doctors and Special
Casualty Access Team (SCAT) paramedics who usually operate from
the Westpac Lifesaver rescue helicopter, but on this occasion
arrived by road.
The Westpac members continued the job of stabilising and monitoring
the patient.
Later a second Botany Cranes rig, with a 55-tonne lifting capacity,
reached the scene and it took the strain of the jib.
Its presence allowed for the weight to be eased from the sailor’s
trapped right leg and at 1.45pm he was freed.
