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Frantic video reveals desperate attempt to save tradies trapped under scaffold collapse

Harrowing new vision and details have emerged from a construction site collapse in Sydney where an 18-year-old apprentice was crushed to death and another man left with critical injuries.

Some 15 metres of scaffolding collapsed on 18-year-old Christopher Cassaniti and his 39-year-old colleague at the Macquarie Park worksite on Monday afternoon.

In distressing footage captured at the scene, workers can be seen frantically running around the debris, screaming as they desperately try to save their mates.

Witness Albert Muscat said he could people under the scaffolding screaming “help us, help us”.

Workers can be seen running around the site, screaming instructions. Source: 7 News
Workers can be seen running around the site, screaming instructions. Source: 7 News
Police officers clashed with workers, telling them to step back from the collapsed scaffolding. Source: 7 News
Police officers clashed with workers, telling them to step back from the collapsed scaffolding. Source: 7 News

“[They were] in obvious pain,” he said.

“We started cutting the scaffold with the grinders with the hammers… Twenty minutes later, we don’t hear their voice no more.”

Tradies clashed with police after they were told to step back from the scene and wait for firefighters.

One man can be heard yelling: “Come on, start, my brother’s down there”.

Mr Cassaniti initially couldn’t be accessed by paramedics and was pronounced dead at the scene a few hours after the incident. His colleague suffered critical injuries to his lower body and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Teen’s mum was at construction site

Christopher Cassaniti, 18, was confirmed dead at the Macquarie Park site when he was eventually pulled from the remains of a 17-metre scaffolding tower which collapsed on Monday.
Christopher Cassaniti, 18, was confirmed dead at the Macquarie Park site when he was eventually pulled from the remains of a 17-metre scaffolding tower which collapsed on Monday.

Three days after hosting his 18th birthday party, the family of Christopher Cassaniti are planning his funeral.

His mother had days earlier sung the praises of her “compassionate and shy, yet strong and forever helpful” son when he turned 18 on Wednesday and held a birthday party on Saturday.

“We wish you all the best that the world can dish out and May God be forever in your heart and bless you with much joy, happiness and most importantly health,” she had posted to Facebook.

Mrs Cassaniti was at the site, working in the canteen, when the scaffolding came crashing down, killing her son.

On Monday evening, friends of the former St Patrick’s College student posted tributes in memoriam.

“You were a fantastic bloke and had a heart of gold,” Benjamin Betros said.

“You have been my friend since the first day of kindergarten .. words can’t express how much this hurts. You were full of positivity, always smiling, always seeing the best in everyone,” Bella Mineo said.

Emergency workers take a critically injured 39-year-old man to hospital. Source: 7News
Emergency workers take a critically injured 39-year-old man to hospital. Source: 7News

SafeWork NSW and police are now trying to work out why the scaffolding at the Lachlan’s Line apartment complex collapsed.

“It is expected that the investigation could take some time, while SafeWork inspectors work through the complexities of the incident,” a spokeswoman said.

A spokesman for construction company Ganellen expressed sympathy to the family, colleagues and friends of the young man.

“The welfare of our thousands of employees and subcontractors has always been a priority for Ganellen so this is devastating news,” he said in a statement,

The fatal incident angered the construction union CFMEU, a spokesman said.

“Such tragedy should not occur,” CFMEU construction and general secretary Darren Greenfield said in a Facebook post.

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