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Crane driver crawls to freedom in lucky escape from collapse

A driver had a lucky escape after he became trapped when the crane he was working was filmed toppling over and slicing through the top of a nearby university building.

The unharmed driver was helped by firefighters and managed to climb out after being trapped for almost an hour later.

The crane crashed with a "loud explosion" into the sixth story of the Griffith University Queensland College of Art building on Grey Street in South Bank.

The moment the crane crashed into the university. Source: 7 News.
The moment the crane crashed into the university. Source: 7 News.
The crane boom sliced through the roof of an arts building, at Griffith University. Source: 7 News.
The crane boom sliced through the roof of an arts building, at Griffith University. Source: 7 News.

A dashcam managed to record the heart-stopping moment the large crane came crashing down.

The 1000 tonne crane first topples backwards in the footage before slamming into the university on one of Brisbane's busiest pedestrian thoroughfares.

"A car had just gone through, and we could also see some pedestrians walking past and just running to miss the debris," a witness told 7 News.

These pictures show where the crane ended up inside a plant room on the top floor of the university. Source: 7 News.
These pictures show where the crane ended up inside a plant room on the top floor of the university. Source: 7 News.
A scene from the crane collapse at South Bank. Source: 7 News.
A scene from the crane collapse at South Bank. Source: 7 News.


"Five minutes earlier I could've be underneath it, or actually crashed into it."

Students attending classes were working directly below but luckily everyone managed to escape unharmed.

They told 7 News they first heard an almighty crash and then the building shook.

"I thought it was like you know how they carry the beams up in the crane, I thought that crashed down, because it sounded like all the metal, but I think it was the top of the building all the metal rattling and stuff," another witness told 7 News.

A crane has collapses in Brisbane. Source: 7 News.
A crane has collapses in Brisbane. Source: 7 News.
The driver was eventually removed from the cabin. Source: 7 News.
The driver was eventually removed from the cabin. Source: 7 News.

200 staff and students had to evacuate while the building was forced shut down for the remainder of the day.

Nearby construction workers at two sites were sent home early as large crowds gathered to watch the rescue.

"I just heard this almighty smash, really loud explosion, I thought it was a plane gone down or something," another witness told 7 News.

Earlier authorities had urged motorists to avoid Grey and Tribune streets in South Bank following the incident due to extended traffic delays.

News break – June 6