A construction worker is critically ill after falling into an empty water tank in County Down. The accident happened on a site in the Ashley Drive area in Bangor on Friday 26 June.
It took fire crews 90 minutes to rescue the 47-year old man, with a specialist rope rescue team and an ambulance fleet also at the scene. The injured man was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. JJ McAllister from the Fire and Rescue Service said the paramedics were working to stabilise the man at the bottom of the tank when fire crews arrived. "It was difficult, in that it was a confined space and it was 10 metres below ground. We have to take all casualties who have fallen this distance to be possible spinal injuries. Any sort of movement has to be very, very much controlled."
The incident happened on a site where a water pumping station is being built. In a statement Northern Ireland Water Ltd said although it was one of its sites, the day-to-day management of health and safety is the responsibility of the contractor. "Northern Ireland Water will assist the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) in their inquiries and will also carry out an independent investigation into the incident. We would like to express our deepest concern for the individual involved and wish him a speedy recovery."
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