Injured man rescued from cherry picker
The scene of the emergency in Scarborough. Pictures: Rob Dunca/The West Australian
UPDATE 12.10pm: A man was injured when he became trapped in a cherry picker about 4m above the ground outside Scarborough's Rendezvous Observation City Hotel this morning.
Police closed the northbound lanes of West Coast Highway about 9.30am as emergency services tried to rescue the man, who was trapped in the basket of the cherry picker for about half an hour after a hatch in the footpath collapsed underneath the machine.
A rear wheel of the cherry picker sunk into the hole, causing the cherry picker to tip.
The man, who was working for subcontractor Professional Paint Works as the business completed works for commercial fit out and refurbishment company Northerly Interiors, had been driving the cherry picker from the basket when it fell into the hatch.
He suffered injuries to his leg and minor cuts and abrasions.
St John Ambulance took the man, who is in his late 20s or early 30s, to hospital.
Osborne Park fire and rescue service station officer John Guhl said the cherry picker had been working on the hotel when it went over the Telstra inspection pit and the rear wheel fell through.
Mr Guhl said firefighters brought an aerial appliance in from Perth station to bring the man to safety.
“The cover for the hatch didn’t support the vehicle so consequently it fell through,” Mr Guhl said.
“It would have been scary for him. He was a bit knocked around.
“As the vehicle has fallen down the hole he would have been flung to one side of the cage.
“He was a bit concussed, had a sore leg and a few abrasions, but otherwise not too bad.”
A Northerly Interiors spokesman said the cherry picker was being used to paint the outside of the hotel as part of a major renovation contract.
“Northerly Interiors will be fully investigating the matter and will be cooperating with authorities regarding the incident,” the spokesman said.
West Coast highway has since been reopened.
