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Update: People trapped as crane collapses on hotel
12:34pm Sunday 3rd June 2007
Comments (11)- To see a video click here.
A man was seriously injured and three others trapped 45 metres in the air for seven hours when a crane collapsed on top of a hotel in Croydon yesterday.
Men working on the crane were heard screaming as the jib of the contraption crashed on to the roof of the Croydon Park Hotel on Altyre Road just after 2pm.
"There are three people on top of the crane who cannot get down. There could also be a fourth person in the cab."
- Eyewitness Angela Ferarra
The crane operator - trapped in the cab hanging from the side of the building - was soon winched to safety by a rescuer suspended by cables from a second crane.
But three others were stuck in the tower of the crane until about 9.20pm when they were rescued by fire crews.
The seriously injured man is in a stable condition in St George's Hospital, Tooting, and the other men were uninjured.
Following the accident, 140 people were evacuated from the hotel and surrounding buildings while more than 50 fire fighters, six fire engines and four fire rescue units attended the scene.
Residents in the area reported hearing a crash "as loud as a bomb" and saw a cloud of dust and debris cover the surrounding streets.
Angela Ferrara, who lives opposite the scene, said: "I was doing some work when I heard this huge crash. The arm of the crane has completely come off and there's metal and debris everywhere.
"I can see that there are three people on top of the crane who cannot get down. There could also be a fourth person in the cab.
"One side of the hotel has been smashed in. I'm not sure about the guests - I've just spoken to an American man who checked into the room below just moments before it happened and he is ok."
No one at the hotel is thought to have been injured and guests have since been allowed back to collect their luggage although the hotel remains closed.
It is thought guests have been transferred to the nearby Fairfield Hotel.
The crane was believed to have been used for the Altitude25 housing development, being built next to the hotel.
Barclay and Fairfield Roads were closed off and while traffic was redirected around the incident via Park Hill Road.
- To see a video click here.
Your Say YourCroydon Guardian
caroline, zoe and friends, east croydon says...
5:16pm Sat 2 Jun 07
Les, Croydon says...
5:42pm Sat 2 Jun 07
Jay, Nearby flat!! says...
5:51pm Sat 2 Jun 07
The eruption of the fall was out of this world and the smoke just swept all over...
Me shocked I sent an email to BBC News 24 and my brother call the police, with the traffic everywhere we're still waiting for it to clear up so family members can get home.
Mick Binge, Shirley says...
7:18pm Sat 2 Jun 07
friend, Sussex says...
2:12pm Sun 3 Jun 07
Mick Binge wrote:How can you say it was exciting, I know the person who was in that crane.
My family and I were on the way home, we were stopped at the traffic lights at the junction of Altyre Road. When we were stopped here I noticed the works being done to the crane and I said to my wife look at that crane, at that moment the top arm crashed onto the roof of the Croydon Park Hotel. There was alot of dust coming from the roof and ground. We noticed a piece of crane that was connected to the hook also come crashing down at the same time crashing onto the top of the newly built section on the main building site at the front. The lights changed but we did not move as the tower of the crane was still moving with people inside. It was quite an experience to witness, exciting and frightening all at the same time.
He is very lucky to be alive.
His children are lucky to still have their loving dad.
Hardly exciting experience..Your words are upsetting to be honest.
Petrifying more like is the correct word to use.
Jamibi, England says...
4:23pm Sun 3 Jun 07
do you really think that by saying "exciting" they meant it was fun to watch? are you crazy? Obviously meant in a way that it was an experience to watch, i doubt anyone would want anyone to be hurt/killed.Think you should just keep stupid opinions like this to yourself, as they were just trying to give more information to people after they had witnessed it happen, but Care police were on the case too quickly. I hope the person in the crane makes a quick recovery.
gary, croydon says...
8:07pm Sun 3 Jun 07
He is very lucky to be alive.and no doubt few locals are lucky the thing didnt fall on them. lets hope for your friends sake he is not implicated in causing the accident as its not unheard of cranes being overloaded, incorrectly balanced etc. we await the health and safety investigation with interest.
His children are lucky to still have their loving dad.
G.DAVIS, S.NORWOOD says...
9:43am Mon 4 Jun 07
BBhakor, Croydon says...
8:00am Fri 15 Jun 07
http://www.contractj
ournal.com/Articles/
2007/06/14/55299/cro
ydon-crane-collapse-
top-was-not-connecte
d.html
Jock, London says...
3:35pm Fri 25 Jul 08
BBhakor wrote:That article was printed in June 2007, so how can it be out if the accident happened yesterday?
Looks like the HSE report is out. http://www.contractj
ournal.com/Articles/
2007/06/14/55299/cro
ydon-crane-collapse-
top-was-not-connecte
d.html
The crane operator being lifted to safety (courtesy of Angela Ferrara)
The crane crashed into the side of the Croydon Park Hotel (courtesy of Angela Ferrara)
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Mike Shaw, Surrey says...
4:59pm Sat 2 Jun 07