A builder has been left in a critical condition after the collapse of a two storey house on Hill Street in Ballymena, where associated builder's scaffolding also collapsed. A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) said, "We are aware of the incident and are carrying out an investigation."
A man working nearby who described the aftermath of the incident said, "It looks like front of the house has just dropped down. There is scaffolding lying across the street and there is some lying on top of a work van."
Local area resident, Don Rhodie said, "The site seemed to have been secure. The scaffolding was the full height of the building and it was fenced off so that you couldn't walk underneath it. They were all wearing hard hats and fluorescent jackets. It seems that the man came off the scaffolding and was trapped by masonry. It appeared that they were cutting out a large window with jackhammers - one fellow was on the scaffolding with the jackhammer."
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